Diner left gobsmacked after discovering uncommon pearl inside mussel at restaurant

A woman celebrating her birthday at a seafood restaurant got the perfect present after finding a priceless PEARL inside a mussel.

Paige Hawkins had been dining at The Quayside, in Stourport, Worcs., with a large group of family and friends to celebrate her 29th birthday last week.

The mum-of-two said her fiance Jimmy Lee, 30, bit into one of the mussels they had ordered to share and found “something hard” inside.

He pulled it out of his mouth ready to complain to waiters only to discover it was actually a rare natural pearl

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Jimmy gave it to his partner, who said it was the perfect gift for her birthday, which she now plans to have valued and turned into a necklace.

Paige, of Kidderminster, Worcs., who works as a chef, said: “We just couldn’t believe it, we found it inside a mussel and it just made for a perfect evening. “It shocked us all. It was just a small, little one. I didn’t know it could come from mussels. It was like a little birthday gift from Jimmy.

“We researched it and it’s really really rare to come from a mussel. I did actually Google it and I think it was something like one in 10,000.”

“I’ve eaten plenty of mussels and such in my time and it’s never something that I’ve ever come across.”

“I’m going to go into town around a few jewellers because it would be nice to know what its worth.”

“I need to find something special to put it in – a necklace or some piece of jewellery to try and keep it safe.”

“We go to the restaurant each year for my birthday and I can’t rave about it enough. This year I ordered the lobster while Jimmy had the mussels.”

“We always share but it was Jimmy who found it .Everyone in the restaurant, from staff to diners, were gathering around to have a look at it.”

“It was quite a special moment and something I will always remember.”

The Quayside said it was an “amazing moment” when the pearl was discovered, which their supplier, W Harvey and Sons, in Newlyn, Cornwall, said was very rare to find.

Restaurant co-owner Scott Applegarth said: “We’re selling 25kg of mussels a week.”

“In the whole history of the business we’ve never encountered one.”

The restaurant posted on social media: “This lucky lady came with her family and friends to celebrate her birthday with us.”

“We were all so excited for her. Just shows what our native waters can produce.”

“Happy Birthday Paige, enjoy your treasure”.