I am lucky enough to have The Three Pickerels located along my daily dog-walking route. It is a spot I find myself visiting from time to time and is perfectly positioned on the river. It has become a regular enough stop for a quick pint or to catch the big games with my son.

I have always enjoyed the pubs rustic look and feel but seeing it transform into a polished, contemporary destination has been an absolute joy to watch. Now, expect a brand-new glass-fronted extension offering a serene, bright dining space that frames the willow trees and the bridge over The New Bedford River beautifully. It feels like a genuine slice of fenland paradise with holiday vibes (if it is a sunny day) and is the sort of place where you can switch off for an hour and just watch the water go by.

The Menu

Since the renovation, the team has been finding their feet, but this brand-new breakfast menu feels like the final missing piece in the puzzle. I was particularly excited to see it launch, as there isn’t exactly an abundance of high-end breakfast joints in the Mepal and Sutton area. The menu is fairly predictable with all the classic options you would expect; ranging from the full English and eggs royale to pancake stacks. Pricing felt fair for the Ely area, which was a genuine relief as regular followers of my Instagram page will know that I have had my reservations about the pricing on their lunch menu lately, so it’s good to see them landing on a point that feels competitive.

Pancakes!

We started with a mix of the classics. My son opted for the pancake stack, which was a well-executed, modest portion, rather than the gargantuan, syrupy mountains you often find in American-style diners but the quality felt more premium. They were thick and fluffy, topped with an absolutely amazing summer berry compote that came accompanied with maple syrup for that added sweetness. The balance of sharp, fruity acidity against the sweetness of the syrup made for a refined start.

Full English

I couldn’t resist the pull of the full English. The menu only offers a single option, but if you ask the staff, you can get a second helping of sausage, egg, and bacon for an extra £2. The plate was a large, honest plate of food, yet at the same time still felt refined. This is the ultimate trick a fry-up can pull off as it ticks both boxes, whereas usually, you have to sacrifice one for the other.

The best example of this was the sausage, which was clearly well-sourced, offering a lightness of flavour without the heavy fattiness that often blights cheaper options. They were quite small but absolutely delicious and had a subtle herbiness that worked well.

The bacon was thick-cut, soft, and juicy, and the eggs were a technical success with the yolks exploding perfectly to coat the toast beneath. I was particularly impressed by the tomato; so often a sad, shrivelled afterthought, this was substantial, well-cooked, and kept its integrity on the bite. While the brown toast was a little limp – feeling somewhat supermarket standard – it was only a minor gripe in an otherwise well-rounded quality breakfast.

Eggs Benedict

My wife, meanwhile, sampled the eggs benedict. She also found the execution of her eggs to be as precise as mine, proving to me that someone in the kitchen has their egg skills down to as fine art. She felt the dish was a little conservative with the bacon portions but otherwise said she couldn’t fault it. From where I was sitting, it looked fantastic and something I would definitely consider ordering myself.

Riverside Renaissance

Seeing The Three Pickerels offer a quality breakfast menu that is both accessible and elevated is a great win for us locals, who have often struggled for a good option in the immediate area.

It is a venue that has finally utilised the potential of its beautiful riverside location. While there are a couple of minor points for them to sharpen, the pricing feels much more reasonable than their regular lunch menu, and the service from start to finish was polite, friendly, and professional. It is a fantastic addition to the area and well worth the trip.
Thanks for reading.

Thanks for reading.