Fish and chips in Southport is a serious subject. I've lived here 41 years and have strong opinions about this. There are good chip shops in this town and there are disappointing ones. Since we're a seaside town, first-time visitors often just walk into the nearest one. That's a mistake.
This is not a sponsored list. These are the places I actually go, and the ones I'd send my parents to if they were visiting.
Mr Chips, Churchtown
If I'm being honest about where I actually go, it's Mr Chips in Churchtown. It's been there for years and it's consistently good. Proper chip shop: battered fish, decent portion sizes, not overpriced. The kind of place locals go rather than the kind that appears on visitor lists. Worth the short drive from the town centre if you're already heading to the Botanic Gardens or the Hesketh Arms.
For a takeaway on the seafront
If you want the full experience of eating chips by the sea, Marine Drive has a couple of decent options. The key is to go for the freshly cooked portion rather than anything sitting under a heat lamp. Ask when they last changed the oil. Any chip shop worth its salt will tell you without looking offended.
One thing most visitors get wrong: they buy fish and chips and then walk the full length of the pier to eat them. By the time they get there, the chips are cold and the batter has gone soft. Eat close to where you bought them. Cold chips from a great chip shop are worse than hot chips from a decent one.
What to order
- →Haddock not cod if the menu lists both. On this coast, haddock is the better fish and usually fresher.
- →Mushy peas if they're proper garden peas, not the lurid green paste from a can. You'll know the difference.
- →Don't bother with the sausage. It's always an afterthought.
- →Curry sauce is a Southport thing. I'm not judging you if you want it.
The honest advice
The best fish and chips I've had in Southport have always been on an ordinary Tuesday when the shop isn't slammed. The worst have been Bank Holiday Saturdays when they're frying everything as fast as they can and quality slides. If you're visiting in summer, go mid-week and slightly before or after the peak lunchtime rush.
📍For a post-beach fish supper: Marine Drive area (PR8 1RQ) has takeaway options within walking distance of the car park. For a proper sit-down meal: Lord Street is the better choice.
Terry
Chief Editor, SouthportGuide.co.uk. Lives in Churchtown with his wife,
four kids, and Frank the bulldog.
