Here’s where to find Britain’s best coastal fish and chips
Ice cream, a stick of rock, a box of hot doughnuts — some things just taste better by the sea...
There are few dishes on Earth capable of inducing cravings quite like the quintessentially British fish and chips. And, while a handful of slick city centre restaurants and home counties gastro pubs continually seek to reinvent the wheel, there can be no better way to enjoy this universally loved dish than on the coast your fish has been caught from. Not only does eating your fish and chips on the British Riviera make your meal more sustainable by reducing travel time and costs, but it also promises to provide your food with unbeatable freshness.
With this in mind, we’ve rounded-up Britain’s best coastal fish and chip restaurants, no matter what your budget. From cheerful hut-based haunts to Michelin-starred sunset spots — these are the coastal restaurants to head to for unbeatable fish and chips.
For understated elegance: Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen, Port Isaac
Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen is located within a 15th century fisherman’s cottage overlooking the harbour at the bottom of Port Isaac (yes, the place where they film Doc Martin). Founded by Nathan Outlaw in 2013, the menu here offers unique dishes created from the freshest seafood landed from the surrounding waters each day.
Sit at the restaurant’s window and watch as the star of the show is brought to shore by certified Responsible Fishing Scheme day boats. Then make your selection -Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen specialises in small, original and delicious seafood plates which are cooked to order.
For stepping back in time: Riddle & Finns, Brighton
Born in the bustling Lanes of Brighton, Riddle & Finns has become a household name for honest, quality and local seafood, oyster and Champagne dining, and takes inspiration from the high-end liquor shops and oyster bars of New York City and Paris.
Dishes here feature the freshest seasonal seafood, crustacea, meat and vegetables — each of which can be accompanied by wines and Champagnes from an extensive and carefully considered menu. So, whether you are looking for a bowl of chowder and a glass of wine or 24 freshly shucked oysters and a vintage Champagne, this is your new opulent hot spot.
For a seaside getaway: The Jetty, Salcombe
The Jetty is the in-house restaurant at Salcombe’s Harbour Hotel. Dishes showcase regional flavours, using local produce and seasonal ingredients – expertly cooked under the supervision of renowned Chef Director John Pollard. Signature dishes (highly recommended) include the Harbour fish pie, a cod fillet topped with a crab and herb crumb, large cut, aged steaks and, of course, fish and chips.
From May onward, the chefs also offer a fresh-caught seafood bar, where guests are able to select their own seafood prior to cooking. Over dinner, guests can drink in the jaw-dropping panoramic views over Salcombe Estuary from the dining room and outdoor terrace.
For a world-famous meal: The Seafood Restaurant, Padstow
So ingrained in contemporary Cornish cuisine is Rick Stein, that residents of Padstow have rechristened their town ‘Padstein’. Along with business partner Jill Stein, he has run the Stein hotel and restaurant business in the UK for over forty years.
In 1975, he opened The Seafood Restaurant in Padstow — which quickly established an international reputation for the very freshest fish and shellfish, often landed on the restaurant’s doorstep. Alongside all the classic seaside dishes you could hope for, a seafood bar sits in the middle of the restaurant where you can watch chefs assembling platters of oysters, langoustines and sashimi.
For dinner with a view: Rocksalt, Folkestone
Mark Sargeant’s Rocksalt restaurant and bar in Folkestone celebrates the finest local produce and the best seafood that the British Isles has to offer. Seasonal ingredients are expertly prepared creating classic and contemporary dishes, while daily specials are influenced by the day’s catch, served in a relaxed, informal setting with panoramic harbour views.
Ingredients here are sourced as locally as possible: from the day boats working along the South Coast, to the local farms set in the rolling Kent countryside.
Looking for more culinary tips this summer? Here’s how to butterfly a leg of lamb…
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