If you are down by the Barbican and fancy a proper chippy, Harbourside Fish and Chips is hard to miss. It sits at 35 Southside Street, PL1 2LE, and has been trading since the 1970s, which is no small feat for a place that lives and dies on its batter. Over the years it has had several renovations, but the basic setup has stayed the same: a takeaway counter on the ground floor for a quick supper and a full restaurant upstairs if you would rather sit down and take your time.
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The fish is the obvious draw. It is fresh and local, landed from sustainable grounds across Iceland, Norway and the Barents Sea, so it is not the sort of thing that has spent days in a freezer before it hits the fryer. That commitment to quality has not gone unnoticed, either. In 2018 it was named the third best fish and chip shop in the UK at the National Fish & Chip Awards, which is a serious nod for a place that keeps things simple. It is also gluten-free accredited by Coeliac UK, so it is one of the easier spots in town to bring someone with an allergy without it becoming a whole production.
As for what to order, the menu leans into the classics. There is the Large Cod and Chips, the Battered Jumbo Sausage and Chips, and the Homemade Fishcake and Chips for something a bit different. If you cannot decide, the Harbourside Platter piles a bit of everything onto one plate: scampi, prawn twisters, spicy crab cakes and salt and pepper squid. There are burger meals too, and a children's menu that is genuinely thought out, with activity sheets, a treasure map and downloadable activities for the KidZone area, so it is an easy choice for families with younger children in tow. A review from 2018 pegged a haddock and chips with mushy peas at roughly eight or nine pounds to eat in, and it praised the crisp batter and the freshness of the fish, which gives you a fair idea of the price point and the quality on offer.
It is worth knowing the hours before you head down, because they shift slightly across the week. On Sundays and Mondays it is open from 11:00 to 22:00, Tuesday to Thursday it runs a little later from 11:00 to 22:30, and on Fridays and Saturdays it stays open until 23:00, which is handy if you are finishing a late dinner or a drink nearby. If you want to book a table or check something before you travel, you can reach them on 01752 603183 or at info@barbicanfishandchips.co.uk. Whether you are after a quick takeaway to eat on the quay or a relaxed meal upstairs, it is a reliable Barbican institution that has earned its place over several decades.
