Bardsley's

We had fish and chips at Bardsley’s and they were absolutely delicious. The staff were very friendly and attentive. The restaurant is a bit outside the city center, but it’s definitely worth the trip. Prices were reasonable. Highly recommended!

Probably the best Fish'n'Chips in Brighton. It's off the main street so a real hidden gem. Delicious food, good size portions and both glasses of Malbec & Sauvignon Blanc were served at perfect temperatures and didn't break the Bank. No starter and too full to eat dessert!

Very cute cafe (above the fish and chips shop), owned by the same owner as the restaurant downstairs. Lovely latte and oreo cake, very chilled environment. Definitely recommend🥰

Great experience here. The hosts are very welcoming and lively! We were a walk-in but it's best to book ahead as I think they get busy. We got regular cod and chips, large cod and chips, curry sauce, mushy peas, butter roll, teas and cokes. Batter on the fish was light and crispy, chips were so-so but nicr nonetheless and I'm sure there's something magical they put in the buttered roll! There is one unisex toilet, clearly marked, towards the back of the building. It was clean and tidy. Only downside is the lack of parking but we found some in a side road, Kingsbury Road, which is a one-way street. Parking is paid for through the PayByPhone app. Maximum 2 hours parking in February costs £7.40 through the app and there's no return within 4 hours.

I don't like giving low star reviews but this week I popped into Bardsleys to get some chippy chips for tea. It was not late in the day, only about 5.30 and I bought a large portion to take away. It was only when I got them home and dished them out that I could see how disappointing they were. They had clearly been fried and re-fried and maybe even fried again. We had some Bardsleys chips in the freezer from a previous visit which we decided to defrost and have the next day. You can see the difference in the photo. Those on the right - lovely and golden and appetising - had been in the freezer for a week or so. Those on the left - nasty looking - were bought fresh the day before.

This place was recommended as the top fish and chip spot in Brighton. The food was tasty - I had the haddock, and it was well-cooked - but unfortunately, there was a small piece of sponge mixed in with the chips. I mentioned it to the waitress at the end, and while she said she would inform the kitchen, there was no apology or sense of concern. For a restaurant with such a strong reputation, I expected a more professional and caring response to a hygiene issue. Nobody wants to find a piece of dish sponge in their food. I rarely visit Brighton, but next time I might just bring my own food - so that I know what I eat.

Lives up to the hype. Simple fish and chips done to perfection in a typical restaurant. Worth the detour from the station if you’re visiting as a tourist.

I was moved to Brighton for a few years , but haven’t tried fish n chips before, one day when I was checking too good to go , I found that they offer a takeaway fish n chips with only £3.99 . That was really a great deal for me to try fish n chips ! Of course even it is a too good to go bags , the food still hot and their staff are friendly when I was collecting! I really enjoy to tried fish n chips with that price with this quality.

Best fish and chips around!! Light batter, great fish selection, beautiful sides! Everything was delicious! Authentic. Worth the trip! Friendly people!

Loved the fish and chips and would highly recommend this place to anyone while in Brighton!

Bardsleys has a very good name here in Brighton, I am a housebound disabled 80 yr old. I have to order via Deliveroo for delivery, well it was my birthday and a friend did not know what to get me so decided as she knows I love F & C she let me order what I wanted, i chose Skate, my favourite but I can;t often afford it. It arrived in good time and the skate was lovely, the curry sauce was also very nice but the chips were awful, many black or large black lumps in them , I have taken a photo but unfortunately can't attach it here, Real let down, over half the chips gone into the bin. Had the chips been nice you would have got 5 stars

Began to love fish & chips after realizing how yummy they could be. So I always search for good fish & chips restaurants whenever traveling somewhere. Bardsley's is labeled as the best fish & chips in Brighton, which I definitely tried when I went to Brighton. Recommended by the waiter, I ordered haddock and chips. Food served quick with a batch of sauces--ketchup, mayo and tartar sauce. The fish was crisp outside and moist inside, no oily taste even after eating a whole haddock. Chips were also good, being the thick ones that I like.

I got a generous portion of haddock and chips for about £10. The fish was fresh and delicious, the chips just right as I like them. Next time I'm going to get a smaller portion though, as the large one was a bit too much for me, but still I just couldn't stop eating.

A fish and chip shop deserving of their reputation. Wanting some good fish and chips in Brighton I researched and found this place. Not close to the seafront, it's up past the North Laine, tucked down a side street on the North side of The Level. It doesn't look like that much from the outside, just a traditional chippie. What is different is that there was a steady stream of people trooping in and out of the door. I'd phoned ahead and reserved and was glad I did as while the tables were empty when we arrived, each had a reserved sign on it, and quickly filled up until every table was full. After a quick round of drinks were ordered, we looked at the menu. It's what you'd expect, mostly fried fish, with some specials on. We opted for the calamari and the whitebait as starters, along with 2 plaice and a grill sea trout. And of course some chips. The whitebait was great, but the calamari could have used less batter, it being the same as the fish. You could still tell that the calamari was a) fresh and b) nicely cooked once you got through the batter though. The mains arrived and while the plaice looked wonderful, the star of the show was the sea trout. Similar in look to salmon, this had been grilled perfectly, difficult for the thickness of the piece served. Expertly grilled, it flaked away nicely. The chips were good, soft and fluffy, exactly the kind to be doused in vinegar and showered in salt. The plaice itself was tasty, and not overcooked. The flavour of the fish coming through the fried batter. For dessert, we split a spotted dick and custard between the three of us. It's a large portion and was exactly the old kind of steamed pudding you were served long ago. The custard and pudding combined to make a great finish to the meal. All in all, we were satisfied with our fish and chip dinner in Brighton and will be coming again!

We went to Brighton last week and we asked a waitress in a pub where to eat a good fish n chips: she gave us this address. The service is great, the boss has sense of humor. Regarding the food, we ordered traditional cod fish and chips. It was very generous! The fish is very good and it is not too greasy. We all finished our plates! I recommend you to go there!

So I'll admit upfront -- I'm partially responsible for my own dissatisfaction with my meal here, because it was my choice to go and sit in that extremely strange Max Miller room. I originally just gravitated towards it because of the sky lights and plants inside -- it seemed the perfect combination of outdoor seating yet no exposure to the elements. But after sitting there surrounded by all these ridiculously sexist jokes (he was a product of his time, I know, I know), the posters of which even repeat the same jokes over and over all around you, I was just starting to lose my mind a little! The service over there is slightly worse as well, since it's so out of the way. So let's just assume you'll skip the Max Miller room and talk about the food instead. Unless you love Max Miller -- in which case you should probably go here for that reason alone. We originally journeyed to this pricier-than-average chippy because Yelp! reviews seemed to indicate it was the best fish and chips in town, and once you move to Brighton, everyone assumes you know where the best fish and chips in town are so we needed to get on that right quick. Unfortunately, it seems we were led astray. The fish just didn't seem particularly fresh compared to some of the other Brighton venues I've tried. And, as other reviewers have pointed out, the chips were particularly awful -- not crisp at all and very soggy (though my partner seemed to like this type of chip? maybe you do too?). The only good thing about it was the variety of flavoured vinegars (chili, garlic, etc) which as a vinegar lover I did appreciate it. I just had to drown my meal in them to power through. Alas.

One of the best fish n chips in England hands down! The child size (~£8) and medium size (~£10.50) fish n chips were the perfect size for us because we wanted to have some room left for dessert in the North Laines later in the day. They have a wide range of fish to choose from, and you have the option between fried, baked, or broiled. The portions were very generous and the food was delicious! Our server was very nice, gave us honest recommendations, and told us about the history of the place. She also gave us all postcards of the restaurant as a souvenir to remember our visit there. It's a bit of a walk from the main tourist area, and because of this it's atmosphere seems like a more genuine 'local' experience. We had heard from a tour guide once that they had one of the best fish n chips in England, so we had to try it, and it absolutely lived up to the reputation!

Their garlic vinegar & chili vinegar are brilliant! Ask for it specifically or "a bit of everything" & they'll bring a few mustards, mayo, ketchup & tartar, too. Overall, great service (the chef is a flirty guy!), fair prices and good quality fish. Something I noticed overall in the UK at chip shoppes, is a lack of seasoning on the actual fish (either under the breading or after it comes out of the fryer). This place wasn't that different. So prepare to cure that bland with some salt in your vinegar.

Bardsleys has certainly gone upmarket in recent years. Gone are the formica tables and the greasy spoon vibe, in are shiny tiles and a restaurant feel. Nevertheless, it has not lost hold of its roots - which are in providing very good quality fish and chips to both eat in diners and to takeaway connisseurs. For those eating in, there are a wide range of options, and fish can be cooked in a variety of ways not involving batter and a deep fryer. For the traditionalists though, they still do what a fish and chip shop does best, and the queues for takeaways that stretch far out of the door on weekend nights are testimony to that. They have also kept the cream and brown seventies style plasticy name sign, which I find a reassuring nod to tradition while they, understandably, move with the times inside.

YUM! Authentic London fish and chips. Our server was friendly and really attentive. My husband and I split the double haddock. It was delicious! The perfect amount of crispy breading. It is also HUGE!! The tartar sauce was also yummy - and they have Heinz ketchup! We are from the US and have noticed a lot of places make their ketchup (which is fine!) but we love Heinz. Definitely glad we got great fish and chips while on our travels.

Bardsley's is famous in Brighton and with pretty good reason. They do great basics: haddock, cod, fish cakes etc. and their mushy peas are very tasty indeed. You can sit in or take away. This place is certainly more upmarket than the average chippie along the sea front...as well as the expected fish and chip classics, they do more interesting seafood dishes, including scallops and sea bass. Look out for specials, which vary depending on the catch! What I like about this place is that they strike a good balance between greasy fish and chip joint and swanky seafood restaurant... they fall somewhere in between and cater to everyone's needs. It used to be a BYOB, which was amazing- regrettably (in my humble penny-pinching opinion) that's changed, and they are now fully licensed. I must therefore deny them one star for their sins.

Quite possibly the best fish and chips in town, Bardsley's has a large sit in restaurant which people flock to. With a tendency to opt for the Haddock, I can honestly say I haven't tasted it being so good since the Haddocks we used to eat straight from the Grimsby Docks. With décor still remaining from what looks like the 70's, there are loads of offerings at Bardsley's and it's a great place to sit for fish. Understandably the lines for takeaway may be larger of an evening, but you really must go for the Haddock-Sublime.

Very old school place with some of the best fish and chips in the UK, so I was told, and I would agree. I went for the cod, which was very moist and crisp on the outside, and the chips were good as well. Not terribly greasy which was a relief. It is in a kind of seedy part of Brighton and the decor is sort of shabby, but definitely rich in history, which I really liked.

This chippie seems to have been serving up our underwater allies since there were mods and rockers in the city. I guess that an established food business speaks volumes and shows that they are frying in the right way! Aside from your usual takeaway in a folded piece of greaseproof, there is also a fairly large restaurant tacked on. The restaurant is in a bit of no mans land and sits uneasily between a proper restaurant and a place to sit and eat your meal from the chippy. In honesty, this doesn't matter. The quality of the fish speaks for itself. They clearly are not defrosting tasteless cod caught in the Atlantic or North sea and you really do get a fresh hit to the mouth with each bite. Also, these guys know how to fry chips while still retaining a semblance of healthiness - not an easy task! You may end up paying a bit more than other chip shops in the city but it really is worth coughing up that extra couple of quid. It's a jewel in the crown of Brighton, that's for sure.

This place always gets bandied around as the 'best fish & chips in Brighton', and as a local I can say that it's probably true. It's always heaving in there, and you'll probably want to book a table if you're into sitting down with your fish & chips, however for the best traditional experience try getting your food to take away and sit on The Level in the rain. Nothing more English than soggy Fish & Chips while you slowly catch hyperthermia. There can be a bit of a wait for food, but it was nice and freshly cooked. The staff are really friendly, and generally give you a bag of cutlery and sauces to go with your order (a lot of places charge you for ketchup & mayo).

I grew up in Brighton and Bardsley's (Roy's as I used to call it) was always my favourite place to eat. I just returned to Brighton for a holiday after living abroad for the past 7 years and eating at Bardsley's was the highlight of my trip. Hands down the best fish and chips in the world. So light and delicious with huge portions. It was so good, I ate two plates.

Finally tried the fish (Haddock) and chips here after viewing the positive ratings. To be honest the fish and chips were decent but I felt they weren't that special to rave about. I've had my share of fish and chips here in Brighton and overall Bardsley's was standard. Prices are a bit higher than your usual chippy shop in town. Unfortunately I don't think I'll make an effort to come back but just to end on a positive note, the food here was reasonable.

This place is finger-licking good. It is slightly off the tourist track when it comes to the heart of Brighton and weekend trippers packing out the laneways. But the great thing is there's a park one block from the chippery that is the perfect spot to sit, people-watch and enjoy takeaway. We preferred this option as the fried food smells inside were a bit overwhelming to sit in so early during lunchtime. Lovely staff who cracked a few jokes with us foreigners. The large haddock was practically exploding out of the styrofoam box. It was perfectly flaky without being neither dry or oily. The batter is perfectly crisp to the point you can feel the crunch out of every bite. The texture was exactly how as a foreigner I always thought real fish and chips should taste like. The chips were extremely generous in portion size, thick and looked hand cut. But the best part - they actually tasted like real potatoes, not oil or a pasty white bleached semblance of a potato. The batter of the fish wasn't oily so the chips didn't get soggy either. Even better was we felt full, but not disgustingly-lie-in-bed-in-a-desperate-food-coma full. It was perfect - cannot recommend enough.

Anytime I get a hankering for fish and chips, this is the only place I'll consider. I order a medium haddock and chips with mushy peas and it's perfect every time. Their chips are thick and soft and actually taste like REAL potatoes, honestly couldn't be improved. Their batter is light and crispy and their fish always fresh and juicy. Amazing food and friendly service makes this a Brighton institution, if you haven't been, go.

We had popped down to Brighton to visit for the day, and we felt that the surroundings called for a lunch of fish and chips. We consulted our Yelp app and saw that Bardsley's Fish & Chips had a good rating. We were on Brighton Pier at the time and it wasn't a far walk away. We both got a medium size battered cod and chips and also ordered some scampi on the side. I enjoyed the fish even though it was a bit flakey. But, I really didn't enjoy the chips. They were bland and mushy. I attempted to eat them a few times, but I just couldn't get into it. We finished lunch and I had an oily taste in my mouth. I was already looking forward to having an icecream to take the taste away. The service was friendly, though, and I had no complaints about that.

Bardsley's is every bit the standard Fish and Chip shop, if a bit more upmarket. For a chippy, it boasts a pretty classy exterior and interior, with a wide glass frontage, classic styled signage above the door, and several fish and fishing related curios framed around the wooden bar. The place is famous amongst Brightonians, and when I first moved here, after making the mistake of going to Harry Ramsden's I decided to ask the locals where was really the best place in town, and unanimously, and without a second's hesitation, they've all said Bardsley's. Now, five stars for a place that charges upwards of £8 for a large portion of the national dish of the seaside might seem excessive or unfair, but, quite frankly, they are the best. Purely and simply, their fish tastes better than anyone elses, and it still retains that hearty element- filling and solid- that would be lost in a sophisticated fish restaurant. Also, if you're of a mind to, you can attack your heart pretty aggressively with their battered sausagehttp://static.px.yelp.com/static/20100107/i/ico/star_big_5.gifs. Here once again, the devil on my shoulder always prevails because these things are ridiculously tasty. Finally, and probably most importantly, the chips are really spot on. Nice and thick, but crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, you couldn't ask for better. If it's a sit down meal you're after, they've got the place looking pretty nice and tables are normally available at most times of day, but in the summertime, if you can ward off the seagulls, a better plan is to head down the level, which is less than a minute away, and enjoy your meal in the sun. Don't be fooled by its distance from the sea, Bardsley's is the only real choice for fish and chips, and you can tell without even eating them that their fish are fresh, because sometimes they run out of certain fish, and sometimes they have others in on special, because the fish have just turned up in Brighton, and been scooped out of the sea and sold to Bardsley's BY A REAL FISHERMAN, not caught in the middle of the Atlantic by a trawler and frozen for weeks before arriving. I can't make a heartier recommendation. Go to Bardsley's.

Friendly service, positive vibe! Food came out quick and it was good value for money fish and chips!

I rarely eat fish and chips but my other half suggested we pop in for lunch, I can say the customer service was absolutely fantastic and the food was fabulous in taste , portion and price 5 out of 5. If ever down London Road way at all pop up Bakers Street and try this beautiful food.

This is an extremely popular British fish and chip shop, selling not just food, but a brilliantly friendly service and also a lovely glass of wine. That is what I like about Bardsley's, it isn't a take away, but it doesn't feel the need to use words like gourmet. It is a restaurant that offers a very good product, and as fish and chips go, I do mean very good. I really like the atmosphere here, the ability to have a relaxing drink and a huge meal together, absolute British pleasure at it's best.

As chippie's go, Bardsley's is a big step up from the traditional fish and chips shops. With plenty of space to sit and relax, as well as some of the best fish and chips in town (the locals all certainly agree), it is hard not to recommend Bardsley's to the fullest I can. However, what Bardsley's seems to lack is character: the food is really great, but it is just a traditional chippie with more space to sit, that's all. Also, the prices are quite a bit for fish and chips... In the end, I'd rather order cheap fish and chips and take them home, or sit in a nice restaurant and have a proper plateful, rather than something in between. Unfortunately, that's the best that Bardsley's offers: an experience somewhere inbetween chippie and fish restaurant. If I was reviewing it as a fish restaurant, I'd complain about the limited menu and chip shop decor: as a chippie, it's too expensive and why would I want to actually sit down and eat my fish and chips in the chippie? Beyond all of these fringe problems, the basics here are done well: the fish is excellent, the chips are well done, all of the accoutrements are available... it's just a bit too expensive for the average chippie. Somewhere in here is a place I'd enjoy to sit and eat, but Bardsley's isn't it.

Full disclosure: I was invited to a 'beer and fish and chip supper' at Bardsley's by the PR people for BeerGenie (http://www.beergenie.co.uk) , a new website which aims to deliver, it says here, a treasure trove of trivia (and fact) on the sociability of 'beer' - together with a wide selection of free-to-use photography. Inviting a gaggle of hacks to drink booze while scoffing fish and chips is like asking a Year 10 drama group if they'd like to appear in Skins try not to get trampled underfoot. Anyway, it was a sociable crowd which gathered last week, and if we didn't learn a whole lot about beer, well, that would be like giving keyboard tips to Stevie Wonder. I went for Lemon Sole with San Miguel which, my crib sheet told me, ought to present a perfect match. And so it did. Bardsley's is a legend in Brighton and its location on Baker Street is only off the beaten track if you think the beaten track comprises Churchill Square, Sydney Street and the beach. It's a stone's throw from the Level. Don't take the kids to the McDonalds on London Road give them a life-affirming experience and bring them to Bardsley's.

Excellent fish and chips shop/restaurant. Large portion sizes, I just ordered a child's sized portion (and I can EAT). The fish is yummmmmy and you can have it cooked in a number of ways! Friendly staff. I would recommend reserving a table for dinner if you decide to go around 8 on a weekend. My only criticism is the layout of the place. Mainly because this is primarily a take away the seating area is in a separate part and it's sometimes difficult to get the attention of the staff because they are busy in the other area.

We had a lovely fish and chips dinner here. I am not a fish and chips expert so not sure what a great fish and chips will taste like but I liked the food and I even more liked the atmosphere. Our waitress was so funny and sweet and the whole place felt super local and authentic.

This is a really nice friendly family run chippie with lots of different fish and other dishes than you might find in other fish and chips shops. As other reviewers have said it is better as a takeaway due to the high price of corkage and the distance from the sea. Still my first choice of take away fish and chips in Brighton.

Best fish and chips. Friendly staff. Love that they now sell beer, making my sit-down a real pleasure with a Harvey's. Introduced my American wife to english fish and chips here, no doubt raising future expectations.

Simply the best fish and chips in Brighton. They've been consistently good since I was a kid. I don't visit my home town without going there and visiting Roy and his family.

Good chips and well battered fish to boot. I liked my food and will probably go there again!

A popular Brighton fish and chip shop. It is also a restaurant that has a large loyal customer base. It is family run. There are vegetarian choices as well.

A delicious and friendly chippy that is well worth a take out. Don't dine in though, it is not the nicest, much better as a take away.

The best run chip shop that I've found. Roy and his family love what they do, adore fish so make sure they buy good quality stuff, keep the prices appropriate and have the BEST customer service.. They now have a licence so you no more BYO or corkage.. but guess what? Roy loves wine too so good cheapish wine too.. Take away is brilliant, but why not enjoy the great staff's company have have a meal.. I've celebrated my birthday here for over 10 years and they make me feel a princess!

Really enjoyed our experience tonight! Food was outstanding & the service friendly and welcoming! Roy & the team should be proud best fish & chips in the country! Black cod was a winner!

This is a great traditional fish and chip restaurant hiding just off London Road. I't's family run and been established for years, it's featured in the Observer, the Telegraph and the Times and when you go you'll see why. The people here are incredibly friendly and the food is brilliant. As well as serving your traditional battered fish and chips they also do posher alternatives like monkfish, sea bass and salmon. It's no more expensive than most fish and chip places but without a doubt better. The food isn't greasy, the surroundings are clean and tastefull and to top it off it's bring your own so you couldn't really ask for more.

Famously 'the best fish and chips in Brighton' but wholly justified. Friendly service (take away or sit down/bring a bottle) from this long established family business. Good selection of fish, prepared deliciously however you like it - battered, grilled even steamed. Yes, at last a chippy for the waistline-aware... thoroughly recommended

Far too expensive. I felt ripped off. And I've had just as good at two thirds the price.

I have to say that the welcome, the service and the food were all very good. However, for three kids f&c's and one 'large' haddock, two mushy peas, two apple juice, one sparkling water and 1 beer plus a few quid tip....48 quid! I can tell you that, as a Northerner where the standard here would be the norm, you'd be out of business charging those prices. They clearly have a lot of fans but the large portion was the size of most chippys medium and we won't be going back in a hurry to eat in what is really a cafe with no separated area for diners (i.e. you are effectively in the same room they're frying in so won't be wearing the same coat again the next day!) Great food but too expensive. It's a chip shop, not a restaurant.

I live round the corner to this shop so I do like to come here and order out rather than sit in the restaurant. My favourites are the rock salmon and the skate. The chips are very tasty with a choice of condiments including chilli and garlic vinegar! Roy and his family are very friendly and the place is always spotless. They regularly have specials if you want something different. I once had real cods roe there (not in a tin). It was awesome! It gets very busy and queues can snake out of the door sometimes.

Bardsley's was worth the hike up from the seaside. They serve terrific fish, which is nicely and thoroughly battered but with plenty of the flavor of the fish making its way through, and excellent chips. We also tried the salmon for a bit of contrast, and that was fine, but the fish and chips lived up to their billing. Highly recommended.

this is the best chips you will ever taste its a lovely place family run the same people since i was a child they always take care with everything they do, if you fancy chips pop in for there take out cos there just brilliant i do agree with not eating in its defiantly better to stroll with a loved one and eat your chips straight from the paper.

Surreal experience on Friday. Got caught in torrential run on our walk from the station and arrived cold and soaked. The fab staff loaned us chef trousers and threw our jeans in the dryer. First visit, so tried the sample platter and a beer - perfect. Jeans were dry on completion of our meal. Day out saved.

Best and friendliest family-run fish restaurant you could hope to visit; a Brighton institution. Fish is cooked as you like from fresh. We had our wedding breakfast here!

Fantastic chippy with a really friendly guy who runs the place. It's always busy and I can see why!

I must say they are the best Fish and chips of the south. However, the waiters there are really mood, depressed and too young to be professional. It seems to me that they are always scared of something.