Fish and chips is basically Britain’s national dish. Beloved by all, there’s something about that cod and deep-fried potato combo that we just cannot get enough of in this country. But not all fish are battered equal, and great chippies deserve our praise, our recognition, our enduring support.
There are around 10,500 fish and chip shops in the UK. What makes a good one is complex and difficult to put into words, but generally the best way to judge is to trust your gut, quite literally. It’s hard to choose a favourite, but that hasn’t stopped the brave people at the Times, who recently crowned their top 23.
At the top of their list was John Long’s in Belfast. Frequented by celebrities and locals alike, John Long’s is simple but quality, having not changed their method for more than a century. This recipe has survived the formation of a country and a civil war, so there must be something special about it.
In second was the Redcloak Fish Bar, all the way up in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire. It was commended for its impressive portion sizes and ‘perfectly cooked haddock’. It’s a five minute drive from the waterfront, so this fish is probably as fresh as it gets.
Taking the bronze was Harbour Lights in Falmouth. It’s the first entry on the list with a direct sea-view, and the first of only two in Cornwall. The Times describe it as ‘insanely popular with the locals’.
The rest of the restaurants may not have made the top three, but they’re still, without a doubt, worth your time. Here’s the entire list:
The best fish and chips shops in the UK, according to the Times
- John Long’s, Belfast
- Redcloak Fish Bar, Stonehaven
- Harbour Lights, Falmouth
- Finney’s, Benllech, Anglesey
- Colmans Seafood Temple, South Shields
- Little Wolf, Strangford
- The Tunny Club, Scarborough
- Whitehead’s Fish & Chips, Hornsea
- Les and Rita’s Fish Bar, Rhyl
- The Rocketeer, North Berwick
- French’s Fish Shop, Wells-next-the-Sea
- The Haven, Lytham St Annes
- Bennett’s Fish & Chips, Weymouth
- Morton’s, Ballycastle
- Lighthouse Fisheries of Flamborough
- The Mermaid, Barmouth
- East Coast, Musselburgh
- Steel’s Corner House Restaurant, Cleethorpes
- Fraser’s, Penzance
- Fishers of Hunstanton, Norfolk
- Maggie’s, Hastings
- The Magpie Café, Whitby
- Lewis’s Fish Restaurant, Seahouses
You can read everything the Times had to say about these restaurants here. And, because we know you’re thinking about it, yes you should treat yourself to a fish supper tonight. You deserve it, and you’ll never be able to stop thinking about it after reading this. Enjoy!
Chippies according to Time Out
The Times may have named its favourite fish shops in the country, but we have thoughts too. Here’s Time Out’s ranking of the UK’s best chipperias, as well as our favourites in London and Brighton.
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