Tag Archives: St Ives

Eric’s Fish & Chips – St Ives, Cambridgeshire (UK)

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Independent business Eric’s Fish & Chips is a welcome sight amongst the giant fast food chains in Abbey Retail Park in St Ives, Cambridgeshire. It may appear to be an unlikely location at first but once you know where it is, it works. It’s a destination restaurant with a fun and unique vibe, serving sustainably caught beer battered fish, beef dripping chips, quality meat, small plates, drinks and more. Ample free parking makes it easy to pop in for a take-away or eat in. This is executive chef Eric Snaith’s second opening, built on the success of Eric’s Fish & Chips in Thornham on the north Norfolk coast, which I have visited several times and wrote about here.

Eric's Fish & Chips St Ives Cambridgeshire Abbey Retail Park

Eric's Fish & Chips St Ives Cambridgeshire diners

Granted, the experience isn’t fish & chips near the sea in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty but once you step inside, the blue and green subtle maritime décor and stone-embedded front counter evoke the Norfolk coast and you almost forget you’re in a retail park unit. The exposed whitewashed brick, multi-coloured wall tiles, plush teal banquette seating and circular light fittings create a welcoming, modern atmosphere.

Eric's Fish & Chips St Ives Cambridgeshire counter

Eric's Fish & Chips St Ives Cambridgeshire inside

I eagerly awaited the opening of Eric’s Fish & Chips in St Ives to see how the food and ambience would compare to the one in Thornham, where we have been known to take a day trip just to feast on their fish & chips. So when the invite came to visit the new location, I welcomed the opportunity to taste more of their menu.

Eric's Fish & Chips St Ives Cambridgeshire order here

Eric's Fish & Chips St Ives Cambridgeshire interior

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Hall & Co Event Design’s Home Entertaining Blogger Event – St Ives, Cambridgeshire (UK)

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In February, Hall & Co Event Design hosted a Home Entertaining blogger event and I was delighted to be one of the four bloggers invited, along with Soph Hearts, Chloe Jo Bletsoe and Sophie Kate Blogs. Hall & Co are not only an award-winning bespoke wedding & events company they also own fantastic café Little Acre Kitchen and run Gather Grow Connect, a physical and digital space for creatives. All three places are in St Ives, in the same building or right next door. What a wonderful hub of beauty, deliciousness and creativity in this little corner of Cambridgeshire!

I’ve been to Little Acre Kitchen many times – it’s one of my favourite cafes. However, I didn’t know that Hall & Co Event Design’s showroom sits at the back of the building. The interior comprises of two rooms with original architectural features: the light-filled prop shop where they display their gorgeous furniture, tableware, signs, lighting, cushions, throws, mirrors etc for hire as well as an intimate, opulent dining room where clients sample their event menus.

The whole blogger event was impeccably organised, a testament to Hall & Co’s planning expertise and welcoming service. As soon as we stepped into the dining room, with its warm tones, ambient lighting, wooden table, fur throws and stunning fireplace, we were made to feel special. The place settings included our name card, personalised message, information pack and Hall & Co’s very own honeysuckle & elderflower scented candles in a little sack (a gift for us to take home).

The table was beautifully set with plates, glasses, cutlery, napkins, candles and vases of fresh flowers. The whole room really reflected the essence of Hall & Co Event Design’s Home Entertaining Guide, which features useful sections on planning, hosting, drinks, cooking, flowers and styling – all ways to create warmth, thoughtfulness and an enticing event. We got a sneak peek at the guide but it’s now available to download.

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Di Rita’s Italian Cuisine – St Ives, Cambridgeshire (UK)

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UPDATE: This restaurant has changed location to 2 The Pavement (still in St Ives) and is now known as Di Rita’s at No 2 (The Old Bank).

I was born and raised in Canada but I’m from Italian parents (Lazio and Molise regions). I often miss the old-school Italian food I grew up on. I’m talking comforting plates of pasta, succulent sauces and traditional favourites. As much as I love modern cuisine, sometimes I’m just looking for some no-nonsense linguine. Di Rita’s Italian Cuisine is just the place we needed to be on a Monday evening.

With an enviable location right by St Ives’ historic bridge in Cambridgeshire, Di Rita’s is open Mondays to Saturdays. The family-run restaurant lights up this little corner of Bridge Street with colours of the Italian flag above their sign and soft purple tones inside.

It’s popular with families, children, couples and groups – these customers and the staff give the place its warm ambience. What it lacks in décor, it makes up in charm and friendliness… and Di Rita’s has these in spades. Their video below is a good representation of their food and atmosphere – it tells the story better than my pics. I didn’t want to photograph the other diners (the place was buzzing) and the multi-coloured lighting made it tricky to take proper photos.

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