The UK’s top seaside fish and chip shops
There’s nothing quite like lazing on the beach, picking at chips and enjoying a freshly coated cod. Where can you find the best seaside chippy?
Golden, crispy batter encasing tender white fish, served with floury chips and a good helping of salt and vinegar. A chip shop supper can only be improved by a sea view. But where can you get the best of both?
Of course, naming the ‘best’ fish and chip shop in the country is a contentious issue, as everyone has a chippy that’s particularly close to their heart. But we thought it would be helpful to name a couple in prime locations by our coast.
Which shop is the best?
The National Fish & Chip Awards 2016 has released a shortlist of 60 contenders who will now receive mystery visits from judges who will determine which shop makes the best fish and chips.
While there's some whittling down to be done, and they're not all on the coast, there are quite a few that would be suitable to tuck into after a trip to the seaside. From Cromars in St Andrews, take a leisurely walk past St Andrews Castle to the rocky coastal outcrops, or watch the boats coming in from sea to the River Tyne after picking up your tea at Oceans in North Shields.
Further south, French's Fish and Chips is located on the edge of the Norfolk coast, a designated Area of Natural Beauty. A short drive will take you down to the seafront, or you can sit on the quayside at the end of a natural inlet looking out over the wetlands. In the southwest, Krispies of Exmouth sits just a couple of streets over from the beautiful coastline.
You can read the full shortlist here.
More chip shops you should visit
Quayside in Whitby won the National Fish & Chip Awards in 2014. It’s right on the mouth of the River Esk, and offers a selection of fish, salads and other dishes.
Run by the Fusco family since 1999, Quayside's fish is sourced from a sustainable supply, and deep-fried the traditional way in beef dripping.
If you’re heading all the way up to the Shetland Islands on your hols, Frankie’s Fish & Chips is an award-winning family-owned takeaway (food pictured to the right), with a beautiful view of the sea winding its way through the archipelago.
Frankie's will be looking to retain its 2015 success, when it was named Independent Takeaway Fish and Chip Shop of the Year. Carlyn Kearney of the shop commented that since then customers had travelled over 700 miles to taste their fish and chips!
Beales Fish and Chip Restaurant in Porthcawl is a short walk from the beautiful Sandy Bay. You could either sit there, or take your takeaway for a walk along the rugged rocks in the next bay over. Finnegans, in the same town, is also tipped as a chippy winner.
If you find yourself in County Down, you should check out The Galley, situated on the docks of Annalong. It has inside seating in case of rain, and has won several awards.
Yorkshire Fisheries in Blackpool has accumulated a good number of positive reviews, and it's near the North Blackpool Pier, which is nice to wander down as you nibble.
In Morpeth, Northumberland, The Harbour Fish Bar is a little known but highly rated chippy set on Amble Harbour, on the North Northumberland Heritage Coast.
Finally, near the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther on Scotland's east coast, you can find The Wee Chippy, The Anstruther Fish Bar, and The Waterfront Chip Shop on the same road. All three have great customer reviews, and you have two alternatives should one be too busy.
Lovefood’s favourites
Managing Editor Simon says that No1 Cromer is a top chip shop right on the North Norfolk coast. It’s located right next to the Cromer Pier, which looks out into the North Sea. The beach stretches for miles: earn your treat by taking a walk down the coast and back, before warming up with hot fish and chips. He's also a fan of Minnie Bertha's on the front in Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex.
I personally reckon that the best chippy near the sea (though it's a really hard decision) is in Penryn, Cornwall: a place called Mariners Fish & Chips. Penryn is near Falmouth, so if you’re driving you can take your meal over to the beach.
If you’re not driving, you can sit down on the quayside at the bottom of the hill (a five-minute walk) and watch the boats. As well as fish and chips, Mariners do some nice seafood taster boxes and great whitebait. Plus their veggie burger is one of the best I’ve ever had.
As I said above, everybody has a favourite seaside chip shop. Where's yours, and what's special about it? Tell us about it in the Comments below.
This is a classic lovefood article that has been updated
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