View Full Version : Best fish and chips
Right troops lets see your top fish and chip shops up and down the country. Recommendations for travelling bushies.
1 Marco,s Arbroath 9/10
2 Gina,s.Whitletts Road AYR 8.5/10
3 Anstruther southshop 8/10
4 Anstruther middleshop 8/10
5 Ullapool 7.5/10
6 Mallaig 7/10
7 Tobermory pier 7/10
Any troops around Ayr try no, 2.
phil
If you're ever in Harrogate, go to Graveleys restaurant. It has quite a posh seafood restaurant, but also does fish and chips to take out. You'll have to go a long way for better!
That new chip shop in Darvel dont no the name , good grub though ...
yorkshire as they used to use beef dripping.hope they still do.
Whitby has good chippies. There is one which has stairs up to the front door and is sitdown place. Was pretty damn good when I went there as a kid. Can't remember the place but you'll spot it easy enough. It is the only chippie on the front with stairs up to the front door and also the only one with people queuing out the door, down the stairs and onto the pavement too. Or at least it was when I was there. Worth the queuing though.
I am very lucky in my nearest chippy is very good. It is one block away (2 minutes walk which seems a lifetime when you have a packet of salty/vinegary/ potatoey/fishy goodness in your hand needing eating.
There is a good one in Arnside. Another one in Bolton le sands just off the A6 (on the left up the road going off just before the lawnmower showroom when you heading south). It has won national chippy awards a few years ago but supposed to be excellent still. Another very nice and award winning chippy is in Bowerham in SOuth Lancaster area. Up the hill towards the uni of cumbria place up there.
BTW I really must thank you for this thread. I really shouldn't but all this talk of fish and chips is making me want to go out and get some for tea. I've already eaten my dinner but I have the taste of fish and chips in my mouth now so must get some. YOu know taste and smell brings up memories better than sight and sound. I think it happens the other way round too... I have a memory of the taste of my local fish and chips which has given me a false taste of it.
That one in Whitby - sounds like it may be the Magpie? It is indeed very popular, never bin in meself 'cos of the queues!
launditch1
09-09-2011, 19:24
French's chip shop on Wells quay Norfolk.
To be eaten on the wall opposite.Sharing with the seagulls optional.
They used to use beef fat all over the place. It is not just Yorkshire for that.
On an aside I once thought it funny that a few years ago I read that there was a place that had won the national yorkshire pudding competitions for a few years on a run. A champion Yorkshire pudding it was complete with trophy and prize money. The only trouble was it came from LANCASHIRE!!! Really like that because it is a Yorkshire dish and a Lancashire lass made the best ones, plus the competition between the two counties made it all the better for a Lancashire lad!! :D
Mick you really should go in sometime. Worth it.
BTW anyone go in the one and only Harry Ramsdens before they spread around the world and started selling it in supermarkets?? I went as a kid and it was nice. Went again later and it wasn't. The difference was it had become more popular in the intervening period and standards had slipped. plus it had actually opened up overseas did HArry Ramsdens I believe and it was in Hong Kong!!
Sorry for hogging the thread but a good example of the difference between beef fat and veggie fat is clearly shown in Settle. The one near the large carpark uses veggie fat and the one in the town square used to use beef fat. The one in the square always tasted better I think. When at Uni we used to stop there on way from Leeds to the Lakes. We used to know this and walked up to the square and missed the queues and got a better supper too!!
udamiano
09-09-2011, 19:37
Pisces Fish Bar Fish & Chip Shop in Sheldon on the Coventry road (A45)
everything is cooked to order, and you can eat in :)
That one in Whitby - sounds like it may be the Magpie? It is indeed very popular, never bin in meself 'cos of the queues!
The Magpie is 'ok', but just ok. The fish is nice but I have had better in random chippies. It is very very very popular though, never seen a chippie so popular.
andybysea
09-09-2011, 20:40
My best fish and chips where in the Orkney's,dont know the name of it but it was on the main street to the left of the ferry terminal,it only opened a few days a week,but the batter was fantastic and the fish was the thickest and moistist ive ever had! Ive been to the Anstruther ones as well very nice but not quite as good as the above in my opinion.
Right troops lets see your top fish and chip shops up and down the country. Recommendations for travelling bushies.
1 Marco,s Arbroath 9/10
2 Gina,s.Whitletts Road AYR 8.5/10
3 Anstruther southshop 8/10
4 Anstruther middleshop 8/10
5 Ullapool 7.5/10
6 Mallaig 7/10
7 Tobermory pier 7/10
Any troops around Ayr try no, 2.
phil
whit aboot the Wee Hurry in Troon 8/10
I think the one in Anstruther still uses lard !!
Chips cooked in lard are good, cooked in beef dripping are superb :)
marcusleftthesite
09-09-2011, 20:50
Ficci's,Tenby ;)
Chips cooked in lard are good, cooked in beef dripping are superb :)
thats what i meant dripping , got mixed up been a loooong time since i had ,or saw that !
tommy the cat
09-09-2011, 20:56
Portreath chippy is superb.
Platters in the Barbican Plymouth, HHHHhhmmmmm GOOD!
The chippy in Corwen north wales is great. Lovely chips and the portions are huge as well.
Right troops lets see your top fish and chip shops up and down the country. Recommendations for travelling bushies.
1 Marco,s Arbroath 9/10
2 Gina,s.Whitletts Road AYR 8.5/10
3 Anstruther southshop 8/10
4 Anstruther middleshop 8/10
5 Ullapool 7.5/10
6 Mallaig 7/10
7 Tobermory pier 7/10
Any troops around Ayr try no, 2.
phil
The Plaice to Be, West Moulin Rd., Pitlochry. 10/10 (He even makes gluten free batter as an option :) )
Tortolano's, Uddingston 8/10
cheers,
Toddy
mountainm
09-09-2011, 21:48
dunno, but the best steak I've ever had was at "Lord Sams" in Hastings....
thats what i meant dripping , got mixed up been a loooong time since i had ,or saw that ! Tesco, Iceland stores all sell it.
My favourite is Marco's at the Arbroath Harbour too- YUM!
ATB
Ness ;)
The chippy in Pittenweem always did a better fish supper than Anstruther. Deep sea at the top of Leith Walk in Edinburgh is very good.
santaman2000
09-09-2011, 23:05
Don't remember the name of it (It's been 26 years) but the only chip shop in Fairford used to be very good. This thread brings back memories. I think I know what's for supper tonight.
chippie in whitchurch rd cardiff best in cardiff regards dave
Hilton chippy, Inverness goodjob
keep this up troops, taking notes. Nobody,s mentioned the one at Gairloch yet, I heard it was the DBLKS.
phil
Best catfish, fries and hushpuppies I've ever had were at the Riverview Restaurant, which is near my hometown. A bit far for y'all but worth it if you are ever over this way. Here is a link http://parks.ky.gov/findparks/resortparks/cf/
Gordy
The chips I had in Lockerbie at the beginning of March 2009 after a gruelling charity drive took some beating.
Who's got the most caked up chip pan then? Being married to a butchers' daughter comes in handy for endless supplies of beef dripping and meat juices for gravy :)
Best chippies I know of are scattered about in Yorkshire, Busy Lizzies in Skipton is always a good feed, The Mermaid & Hillycroft are stunning in Morley, prolly the best I've ever had was from Fish and Chips at 149 in Bridlington a couple of years ago.
Fosters fish & chips... Didsbury and Alderley Edge... Awesome grub !!!
http://www.fostersfishandchips.co.uk/
santaman2000
10-09-2011, 02:50
Like I said, it's been 26 years since I've had any fish & chips over there. Are the rumors I've heard true? Have they quit wrapping them in newspapers?
FlyingHaggis
10-09-2011, 03:04
Right troops lets see your top fish and chip shops up and down the country. Recommendations for travelling bushies.
1 Marco,s Arbroath 9/10
2 Gina,s.Whitletts Road AYR 8.5/10
3 Anstruther southshop 8/10
4 Anstruther middleshop 8/10
5 Ullapool 7.5/10
6 Mallaig 7/10
7 Tobermory pier 7/10
Any troops around Ayr try no, 2.
phil
THE only one i have tried many times is Marco's in Arbroath I had many a good chippy there while based at Condor
"Pepe's" off J11 - M1 (Dunstable Road opposite the Halfway House Pub) have won the National chip shop of the year Award a few times (believe the list is up on display) very rare to see it empty.
But the Chippy that sticks out in my mind I have visited is at Morcambe Bay Unfortunately it escapes me exactly where it was.. I do recall asking for 2 large cod, they said those your looking at are small, we have run out of the large (those 4 small cod were larger than any large cod I have had from any inland chippy) and those 4 cod with chips fed the 8 of us in the group were were traveling. and they were soooo enjoyable too.
blacktimberwolf
10-09-2011, 09:09
You are a bunch of :censored: ........just think of those poor Brits living abroad, hundreds of kilometers from the nearest chipie :drive:....drooling, salivating, craving reading this thread & have to make do with fish fingers & oven chips..........just ain't cricket :p.
cave_dweller
10-09-2011, 09:19
chippie in whitchurch rd cardiff best in cardiff regards dave
D'you mean "Devonia"? If so, I agree with you - cracking grub, and it's been good since I was in University there at least 20 years ago, so it's no fluke!
They used to do superb rock. We would sometimes walk from our flat on Crwys Road, past at least three other chippies to go to this one.
With all the talk of fish & chips I went to my nearest Long John Silver's and got this meal of Alaskan Pollock with fries, hushpuppies and slaw. Maybe not the same as y'all, but the only fish & chips available here in my immediate area.
My lunch today.
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p163/gordymiller/DSCN2237.jpg
Gordy
drewdunnrespect
10-09-2011, 22:02
weatherby waler on weatherby high street
norten fishy norton high street
santaman2000
10-09-2011, 23:15
In Crestview, Beef O'Brady's
In Destin or Pensacola, MaGuire's Irish Pub www.mcguiresirishpub.com
Neither is a chip shop but good pub grub
Like I said, it's been 26 years since I've had any fish & chips over there. Are the rumors I've heard true? Have they quit wrapping them in newspapers?
Our local chippie serves them in wee cardboard boxes :)
Some use the polystyrene trays but they're real litter makers.
Newspaper is only occasionally used now to outer wrap as insulation; it's usually a sheet of white butchers paper lined with a sheet of greaseproof that's used, and as I said, sometimes a bundle of suppers wrapped in newspaper. It's really rare though, but carrier bags leave the inner papers wet.
The smell of hot vinegared chips is unmistakable :D Even if you've not long eaten, that smell can make your taste buds drool :)
cheers,
Toddy
santaman2000
10-09-2011, 23:36
Thanks Toddy. I remember getting fish & chips from the chiipie in Fairford and walking back to the dorm with them wrapped in the newspaper. And you're absolutely right about the smell. LOL.
With all the talk of fish & chips I went to my nearest Long John Silver's and got this meal of Alaskan Pollock with fries, hushpuppies and slaw. Maybe not the same as y'all, but the only fish & chips available here in my immediate area.
My lunch today.
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p163/gordymiller/DSCN2237.jpg
Gordy
What are hushpuppies Gordy? I'm thinking they're some kind of fluffy potato balls?
What are hushpuppies Gordy? I'm thinking they're some kind of fluffy potato balls?
Hi Rich, they are cornmeal, onions and salt, mostly. Savory in taste, somewhat like corn bread. They are deep fried and different regions have different seasonings, like cajun for example. These were somewhat plain but very good.
ATB,
Gordy
FlyingHaggis
11-09-2011, 03:31
the problem with reading this thread at 3.30 in the morning is the hungerpangs have just started why did I read it at this time LOL:lmao:
santaman2000
11-09-2011, 13:11
Hi Rich, they are cornmeal, onions and salt, mostly. Savory in taste, somewhat like corn bread. They are deep fried and different regions have different seasonings, like cajun for example. These were somewhat plain but very good.
ATB,
Gordy
LOL. Gordon, don't forget enough milk (or buttermilk) to make it a batter.
Had fish and chips last night. Got a dreadful cold so couldn't taste them at all (and felt a bit guilty driving to get them but then it was raining really hard). My local chippie just wraps them in paper (not newspaper) so that went straight on the fire once I'd finished (including the plastic bag as I've read that burning polythene is OK)
i can see a cool camping chippie book coming soon
Dropped anchor in Kirkwall, Orkney, about twenty years ago and we found a very excellent chippie near the harbour. Haven't a clue what it was called but they used real newspaper to wrap up the chips. :)
i can see a cool camping chippie book coming soon
Or you could just camp with Eric Methven :) he makes them fresh on site :D
Grandson wanted chips for his tea, so Eric made him chips :cool:
cheers,
Toddy
LOL. Gordon, don't forget enough milk (or buttermilk) to make it a batter.
Buttermilk for sure! :D
Gordy
shaggystu
11-09-2011, 18:43
The chips I had in Lockerbie at the beginning of March 2009 after a gruelling charity drive took some beating.
it's a while cince i've been up to that part of the world but i do recall the chippy in lockerbie being bloody good.
not quite a chippy recomendation but, one of the pubs in the next village to me has just started doing take away food and their fish and chips are up there with the best i've ever had. it's in a village called ashover and the pub is the crispin, i'd highly recomend a visit if you find yourself passing
stuart
The best in Birmingham has to be http://www.greatbritisheatery.co.uk/
Officially the best chippie in the country in 2010. Beef dripping, perfect cooked fish.
Just brilliant.
Cracking chippie at Castle Douglas down near the park, forgot about that one.
stillwisneyme
Got to agree with Drew, Wetherby Whaler in Wetherby, fabulous, can't fault them
Dave
woodspirits
11-09-2011, 19:56
got to be said lads, inland you aint tasted nothing like fresh caught cod and whiting. (spent some time on the trawlers) so different freshly gutted and cooked. ok not your average 'drop in' :)
British Red
11-09-2011, 20:44
Savory in taste, somewhat like corn bread.
ATB,
Gordy
That's hillarious
Did you know Gordy that almost no-one in Britain has ever eaten cornbread?
That comparison is a bit like
"what does golden eagle taste like"?
Sort of a cross between Dodo and velociraptor..... :)
I eat cornbread.... made with egg replacer and soya milk :D
You're right though; when an American friend gave me a scone with my dinner I was totally nonplused. Utterly and completely confused when she called it a biscuit too :rolleyes:
We're growing corn here now, maybe we'll get used to it :)
cheers,
M
British Red
11-09-2011, 21:07
I hope so - all that corn I'm growing has to go somewhere....and my grain mill!
I hope so - all that corn I'm growing has to go somewhere....and my grain mill!
You are in for a treat, then. BR you should explore lots of goodies made from corn. An internet search should provide many recipies for cornbread, hushpuppies, Jonny Cakes, fish batter (made from cornmeal, which is the preferred batter for catfish) and since you have a mill, you should try making your own grits. :D
Gordy
British Red
11-09-2011, 22:24
Grits...shudder.....found something like that in my fishpond once
i can see a cool camping chippie book coming soon
I'm sure I've seen chips done in a dutchie on here somewhere, one of those I've been meaning to try but never got round to it.
"what does golden eagle taste like"?
Chicken :) .
That comparison is a bit like
"what does golden eagle taste like"?
Sort of a cross between Dodo and velociraptor..... :)
Touche' mate! Meet the new, non-extinct velociraptor:
The F-22 Raptor
Role Stealth air superiority fighter
National origin United States
Manufacturer Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Boeing Integrated Defense Systems
First flight 7 September 1997[1]
Introduced 15 December 2005
Status In service
Primary user United States Air Force
Number built 168 as of October 2010 (187 planned)[2]
Developed from Lockheed YF-22
Developed into Lockheed Martin X-44 MANTA
Lockheed Martin FB-22
Oh, and we all know what it tastes like; "it tastes like victory"! :D :D :D
Gordy
Fish n, chips tonight troops, thinking of all you poor soles hee hee abroad who are licking their lips at the thought.
phil
Funny you should say that ....himself is having a haggis supper :)
For those not familiar with this delicacy, the chippy fries a black pudding shaped haggis in batter and dishes it up with chips.
Son2 and I are having haloumi in crispy batter and chips.
Comfort food, it's a dreich day here.
cheers,
Toddy
Andy2112
16-09-2011, 13:10
Our local chippie serves them in wee cardboard boxes :)
Some use the polystyrene trays but they're real litter makers.
Newspaper is only occasionally used now to outer wrap as insulation; it's usually a sheet of white butchers paper lined with a sheet of greaseproof that's used, and as I said, sometimes a bundle of suppers wrapped in newspaper. It's really rare though, but carrier bags leave the inner papers wet.
The smell of hot vinegared chips is unmistakable :D Even if you've not long eaten, that smell can make your taste buds drool :)
cheers,
Toddy
Hi Toddy,
our local chip shop uses white sheets of paper, it comes from Middletons which produce news print for the media industry. They use those poly trays too which are just litter imho. Got to have vinegar on me chips, no salt as i got hypertension, lol
Andy2112
16-09-2011, 13:14
I'm sure I've seen chips done in a dutchie on here somewhere, one of those I've been meaning to try but never got round to it.
You did Rich, it was at a Rough Close meet last year or the year before, we also did southern fried chicken, lol.
I'm sure I've seen chips done in a dutchie on here somewhere, one of those I've been meaning to try but never got round to it.
You did Rich, it was at a Rough Close meet last year or the year before, we also did southern fried chicken, lol.
Yup, the 2010 Outdoors Show Meet at RC ~ link (http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=54765&p=667765#post667765)
Andy2112
16-09-2011, 13:32
If your in the Black Country (Midlands) try Our Plaice in Halesowen, old fashioned fish and chip shop frying in beef fat, won loads of awards too. You can have your fish battered deep fried, un-battered deep fried or even grilled. They do have different fish in too, like fish of the week. the other month was Bream. There's always a queue so they're doing something right.
In Cradley Heath there's Hooked on Fish, another good chippy.
marcelxl
16-09-2011, 13:39
I am pretty certain that it is fact that the best Fish and Chips are from Yorkshire.:cool:
I actually believe (generally) that too to be honest, although oddly I have never found the coastal spots that good compared to some we have locally despite having them straight off the trawlers.
The Magpie at Whitby is the most over-rated chippy ever! Just an average chippy dispite the pictures of celebs on the wall
That said, the best I have ever had were from "Dicks Fish & Chips". Campbell River, V.I., Canada. They were sublime! a choice of locally caught Salmon or Halibut & I went for Halibut. Awesome!
santaman2000
16-09-2011, 14:26
Grits...shudder.....found something like that in my fishpond once
LOL. We get that same reaction from northerners over here. They want to eat them like Cream of Wheat or Oatmeal by adding sugar and/or milk. Grits are actually more or less tasteless alone; they need copius amounts of salt and butter added (and sometimes extras such as shredded cheese, crumbled crispy bacon, or shrimp)
All in All though we do lokie them. Definitely better than their nearest Italian cousin, Polenta.
http://www.aldeburghfishandchips.co.u k/
10/10, really the best I've tasted - I'm not local by any means - and I've been to all sorts across the country (including Whitby and what must have been the most expensive in Padstow courtesy of Mr Stein)
Portion size however, 5/10, it felt 'half size' to me - really could have done with being bigger.
Queue was amazing. Started half an hour before it opened and must have almost been 100 people long.
http://www.aldeburghfishandchips.co.u k/
10/10, really the best I've tasted - I'm not local by any means - and I've been to all sorts across the country (including Whitby and what must have been the most expensive in Padstow courtesy of Mr Stein)
Portion size however, 5/10, it felt 'half size' to me - really could have done with being bigger.
Queue was amazing. Started half an hour before it opened and must have almost been 100 people long.
1st prize for longest queues (and highest number of customers wearing Jack Wills!)
Laurentius
16-09-2011, 23:26
As others have said, the Magpie in Whiby, however it's not the only one especially when the queus are too long. I have recently spent a week there on a diet largely of fish and chips.