THE BEST fish and chips shops in the UK have been revealed – and one of the top cities to visit this year is home to it.
While some might expect to find best chippy in a quaint seaside town like Scarborough, Ballycastle or Padstow, it’s actually in the city of Belfast, which sits at the top of sea inlet in east Northern Ireland.
The Northern Irish city is home to UK’s No.1 fish and chip shop, according to the Times.
While the city is 20 minutes from the nearby beach, the traditional fish and chip shop is loved by both locals and famous faces.
John Long’s claims to be ‘Belfast’s best kept secret” having opened more than 100 years ago.
Originally a grocery store, owner John Long converted a part of it to sell fish and chips in 1914.
It has since only had two owners since then, with the traditional decor of the 1950s remaining.
Celebrities including Brendan Fraser, Sean Bean, and members of Take That are said to have visited, along with Dara Ó Briain.
And TV presenter Eamon Holmes said he loved it so much he would choose it as his “last meal”.
Speaking of the shop, the Times said: “Its popularity is all down to the fresh fish — landed at Kilkeel — and the lightest of batters, the recipe for which hasn’t changed in 104 years.
“Then there are the traditional pasties (battered minced pork with onion and potato), an old Belfast staple.”
Tourists around the world have even been talking about it.
One said: “Oh my goodness, this place has been on my bucket list for years. I live in the USA and when I came home this Christmas, I had to try John Longs.
“I was not disappointed, beautiful fried fish with no batter residue. Chips beautiful dry, meaty and fried to perfection.”
Another wrote: “We haven’t been in over 25 years, the service and food was excellent, it had the same great atmosphere just like our last visit.”
Other praises were for the “authentic chippy vibes” as well as the huge portions.
Following Belfast for the best fish and chips was Stonehaven’s Redcloak Fish Bar in Aberdeenshire and Harbour Lights in Falmouth, Cornwall.
Of course there is more to do than just fish and chips when in Belfast, which was also named one of the top places to visit in the UK this year by Time Out.
Its main attraction is the famous Titanic Museum, where the ship was both built and launched.
Otherwise there is also the Botanic Gardens, built in 1839, and the free-to-visit Ulster Museum.
The Sun recently visited Belfast – here’s our verdict.
And if you fancy going yourself, Ryanair has cheap flights for as little as £14.99 from Edinburgh.
The top 23 places for fish and chips have been revealed by The Times - see the full list below:
1. John Long’s, Belfast, Co Antrim
2. Redcloak Fish Bar, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire
3. Harbour Lights, Falmouth, Cornwall
4. Finney’s, Benllech, Anglesey
5. Colmans Seafood Temple, South Shields, Co Durham
6. Little Wolf, Strangford, Co Down
7. The Tunny Club, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
8. Whitehead’s Fish & Chips, Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire
9. Les and Rita’s Fish Bar, Rhyl, Denbighshire
10. The Rocketeer, North Berwick, East Lothian
11. French’s Fish Shop, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk
12. The Haven, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire
13. Bennett’s Fish & Chips, Weymouth, Dorset
14. Morton’s, Ballycastle, Co Antrim
15. Lighthouse Fisheries of Flamborough, East Riding of Yorkshire
16. The Mermaid, Barmouth, Gwynedd
17. East Coast, Musselburgh, East Lothian
18. Steel’s Corner House Restaurant, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire
19. Fraser’s, Penzance, Cornwall
20. Fishers of Hunstanton, Norfolk
21. Maggie’s, Hastings, East Sussex
22. The Magpie Café, Whitby, North Yorkshire
23. Lewis’s Fish Restaurant, Seahouses, Northumberland
15. Lighthouse Fisheries of Flamborough, East Riding of Yorkshire
You can also fly from Manchester Airport and East Midlands Airport.
A huge new £340million train station is also to open in Belfast – here’s everything you need to know about it.
