How much is an average portion of fish and chips? We spent a week in Whitby devouring fish and chips to compare the prices.
The latest industry report from The KFE Fish & Chips Survey 2024 indicates that the average cost of a “regular” portion of fish and chips in the UK is £10.88. Does that surprise you? Whitby has many places to buy the best fish and chips. From longstanding family-run restaurants to contemporary takeaways, we did a little price comparison at a few spots. Here are the prices of Whitby fish and chips compared!
First, here are a few interesting fish and chips stats
(Well, we find these interesting, at least!)
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In terms of pricing, the highest-priced regular fish and chips can be found in London, costing £22.50, which includes a 7-8oz portion of fish and a 12oz portion of chips. On the other hand, the most affordable option is in West Yorkshire, offering a 6-8oz portion of fish with a “scoop” of chips for £6.70.
Portion sizes
According to the report, the average size for a regular portion of fish is 7-8oz, although some shops serve regular portions as large as 12oz. The smallest portion is recorded at 4-6oz.
There is significant variation in chip portions, with the average size for a regular portion of chips weighing in at 10oz. However, the largest portion comes in at 20oz from a chippy in Nottingham, where a meal of fish and chips costs £10.45. In contrast, the smallest regular portion of chips is 4oz in a Scarborough takeaway, where fish and chips cost £10.
The report also reveals that while 68% of shops are aware of the size of the chip portions they serve, almost a quarter (23%) have no idea about the portion sizes. Additionally, almost one in ten (9%) measure their chips by “scoop,” with two scoops being the average.
Accommodating dietary needs
It’s great to see that shops are keeping up with modern trends and accommodating a broader range of dietary needs. More than two-thirds (70%) of shops now offer vegetarian options. Additionally, around half of the shops (50%) provide gluten-free options, while vegan (44%), salads (44%), and baked fish (40%) are also available at about four in ten shops. Only 15% of shops do not offer any of these alternative options.
The Magpie Cafe
Regular size portion of fish and chips:
Eat in: £16.95
Takeaway: £11.95
Our first stop was the one and only Magpie Cafe. We braved the queue up the steps, which wasn’t too bad. This renowned seafood restaurant has a long-standing reputation for serving top-quality fish and chips.
A standard-size portion cost me £16.95 (9oz), and my partner got the large portion for a whopping £19.95 (12oz)! I found this price a bit on the higher side. However, the portion size was generous, and the fish was incredibly fresh. Both were served with Magpie tartare sauce, lemon, thick-cut chips, or a garden salad bowl. We also had the Magpie Chip Shop curry, which was lovely.
The price for cod and haddock is the same, and they offer a smaller fish and chips portion, 6oz, for £12.95. You can request gluten-free fish and chips here. They also have a children’s menu featuring chunky cod or haddock with lemon and chips for £6.50.
*Please note that the takeaway prices and portion sizes are different. Click here for the takeaway menu.
Trenchers
Regular size portion of fish and chips:
Eat in: £17.50
Takeaway: £11.25
Next, I tried the fish and chips at Trenchers, another well-loved spot in Whitby. Here, the portion was priced at £13.50; the medium-sized portion was priced at £17.50, and the large at £19.50. Like the Magpie, I found this to be on the higher side; however, here I had the small portion, which was so generous that it was more like an average portion, in my opinion. Fish and chips here are served with lemon and a pot of homemade tartare sauce. The fish was so fresh, and we also tried the seafood chowder, which was tasty.
Cod and Haddock are the same price here, and the desserts looked incredible; if I hadn’t been eating my way around all of Whitby’s fish and chips, I would have had one. They can make your portion gluten-free and offer a children’s menu, which is £8.95 for a junior Cod drink and a dessert.
*Please note that the takeaway prices and portion sizes are different. Click here for the takeaway menu.
Abbey Wharf
Regular size portion of fish and chips:
Eat in: £15.95
Takeaway: £11.20
Moving on to Abbey Wharf, I found that their standard-size portion of fish and chips was priced at £15.95 for either Cod or Haddock. Despite the slightly lower price point, the quality and portion were very generous. They also have an extensive seafood menu that looks fantastic.
They offer gluten-free fish and chips, and the children’s menu features fish bites & chips with baked beans, mushy peas, curry sauce or gravy on the side for £7.95.
*Please note that the takeaway prices and portion sizes are different. Click here for the takeaway menu.
Mister Chips
Regular size portion of fish and chips:
Eat in: £11.00
Finally, I decided to visit Mister Chips, a classic fish and chip shop known for its no-fuss, traditional feel. They offer two portion sizes, medium and large, at £11.00 and £13.00 for Cod or £11.40 and £14.00 for Haddock. We both went for the medium portion (I’m 99.9% fish and chips at this point), and the portion sizes were excellent, making it the most economical choice of all the places I visited in Whitby. The no-frills approach was refreshing. The sides were reasonably priced, as well, at 95p for a pot of curry sauce, gravy, or mushy peas.
Like most of Whitby’s fish and chip spots, Mister Chips also offers gluten-free fish and chips, which is brilliant.
Despite a small price difference, the cost of fish and chips seems to be pretty consistent at all the places I checked out. And guess what? The quality at all four restaurants I tried was top-notch! I love how places like Trenchers offer different portion sizes. But my favourite way to eat fish and chips in Whitby is to share a portion from the paper on a bench at the pier while dodging pesky seagulls. Bliss. In the comments, let us know what you think of Whitby’s fish and chips prices.
We visit Whitby often – it is our favourite holiday place. We also love fish and chips but when you are doing reviews of the different fish and chip shops – you never mention what they cook in. My husband is a vegetarian so doesn’t eat anything fried in lard – so it would be helpful in your reviews if you would mention what is used in the cooking.