The most affordable fish & chips shops in the UK

With summer on the horizon, countless holidaymakers will be flocking to the coast to enjoy some sea air and tuck into a British staple: fish and chips.

But with the cost of living continuing to rise, many of us are looking for ways to make the most of our days out without overspending. Luckily, the UK coastline is dotted with some standout fish and chip shops that serve up affordable (and delicious) eats.

With this in mind, we’ve analysed TripAdvisor reviews to rank the most reasonably priced spots, revealing where you can grab a hearty portion without blowing your budget. We’ll also dive into some top tips on how you can save some extra cash when eating out this summer.

1. Lifeboat Fish Bar, Scarborough

With its historic harbour and family-friendly attractions, Scarborough has long been one of the North’s favourite seaside spots. And for visitors looking for quality fish and chips at great prices, it has some fantastic options, one of them being the Lifeboat Fish Bar.

With a total score of 9.62, and an overall TripAdvisor rating of 4.9, there’s no surprise it sits comfortably in first place. When it comes to value for money, the Lifeboat Fish Bar has a similarly impressive score of 4.8.

2. Off The Hook Fish and Chips, Brighton

Brighton is known for its iconic pier and quirky lanes, providing visitors with plenty of options when it comes to grabbing a bite to eat. Off The Hook Fish and Chips is a well-loved spot, serving up budget-friendly, generous portions near the sea front.

With a general TripAdvisor rating of 4.7 and an impressive value rating of 4.9, it’s certainly deserving of second place.

3. The Fryer Tuck, Deal

Next up, we have The Fryer Tuck, which boasts an overall score of 9.17. Located in the quaint seaside town of Deal, it’s a spot that’s favoured by locals and visitors alike.

The Fryer Tuck has an overall TripAdvisor rating of 4.7, and a value rating of 4.9, providing quality food at a great price.

4. Bentley’s Fish and Chips, Blackpool

Bentley’s Fish and Chips is next, located just off Blackpool’s promenade. We found a TripAdvisor rating of 4.7 and a value rating of 4.8 for this restaurant.

Customers shout about its wallet-friendly prices, so there’s no doubt it’s deserving of a place in our ranking.

5. Mackerel Sky Seafood Bar

Rounding off our top five we have Mackerel Sky Seafood Bar, located in Penzance, Cornwall. Whether you’re interested in exploring ancient landmarks or sampling some local cuisine, this seaside town has plenty to offer tourists.

Mackerel Sky Seafood Bar has a total score of 8.43 and a TripAdvisor value rating of 4.6, so it’s definitely worth a visit if you find yourself in Penzance over the summer.

And if you want to see the full top ten, take a look at the map below:

Moneyboat’s top tips for saving when eating out this summer

When you’re grabbing a bite to eat with the whole family, costs can quickly add up. So, here are a few ways you can make your money stretch that little bit further:

1. Keep your eyes peeled for deals: Many restaurants offer discounted menus if you dine midweek or earlier in the day. Some even have ‘kids eat free’ deals, perfect for eating out during the summer holidays. It’s always worth checking online or giving them a quick call to ask.
2. Look for local favourites: We all know that tourist hotspots can get pricey, so we’d recommend having a look on TripAdvisor to find authentic, budget-friendly spots.
3. Share when you can: Portions at fish and chip shops are usually more than enough to share, especially between younger children. So, ordering a large portion and splitting it can be a great way to keep costs low.
4. Take it to go: Opting for a takeaway rather than dining in can save you some extra cash. Plus, there’s nothing quite like enjoying your food with a sea view in the summer.

There you have it: the most affordable fish and chip shops in the UK! If you find yourself in one of the above seaside towns this summer, you’ll know exactly where to head for a tasty meal that won’t break the bank. And don’t forget to bear the above tips in mind to save some extra cash too.

Cutting costs is a great way to free up money for your savings. But if you’re yet to build up a substantial pot, and you need funds to tide you over, we might be able to help. Here at Moneyboat, we offer fair and flexible short-term loans, lending money to cover unexpected expenses which can then be paid back in manageable instalments.

Or, if it’s additional insights you’re after, just head over to the Moneyboat blog. There you can read about how shopping second-hand can help you save money as well as the 50-30-20 budgeting rule.

Methodology

This dataset ranks 25 UK fish and chip shops in popular UK seaside towns, based on their affordability and reviews. To do this, 2 different factors were used. Once the data for the factors was collected, the factors were then normalised, to provide each factor with a score between 0 and 1. If data was not available, a score of 0 was given. The normalised values were then summed & multiplied by 5, to give each shop a total score out of 10. The locations were then ranked from highest to lowest, based on their total scores.

The factors used are as follows:

• TripAdvisor overall rating
• TripAdvisor ‘Value’ rating

The factors were indexed as follows:

• All Factors: Higher is better

All data is correct as of 30/04/25. The ranking data shown is a compilation of multiple data sources and may not be representative of real life. All data is accurate with regards to the sources provided.