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Our Story

 
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The UK’s best!

Fish & Chip Restaurant of the Year
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Environment & Sustainability Award

Fish City is honoured to be recognised by the National Federation of Fish Friers with the UK’s Environment & Sustainability Award and as the UK’s Fish & Chip Restaurant of the Year at the National Fish & Chip Awards 2023.

View all the 2023 winners here.

Fish City

33 Ann Street
Belfast BT1 4EB
Northern Ireland

+44 (0) 28 9023 1000
www.fish-city.com
events@fish-city.com

Award-winning

Fish City is a lively, award-winning seafood and fish and chip restaurant and takeaway in the heart of Belfast city centre, recognised as the UK’s Fish & Chip Restaurant of the Year and Environment & Sustainability Champion in 2023. A local, family-owned independent business, we began our journey in 2013, winning the Seafish Regional Fish & Chip Shop of the Year Award in 2015, voted the UK’s healthiest and most sustainable Fish & Chip Restaurant and Takeaway by Seafish in 2018, and awarded a Catey for Health & Nutrition in 2019. In 2023, we were recognised by the Marine Stewardship Council as Foodservice Champion and Marketing Champion of the Year.

Local & Sustainable

At Fish City, we are committed to sourcing seafood sustainably; all of our cod, haddock, and hake are Marine Stewardship Council-certified. All other species of fish are responsibly sourced. The first business to join Ulster Wildlife’s Sustainable Fish Cities NI environmental campaign, we extend our advocacy through our Kids Club and a range of educational initiatives. A member of the Good Food Ireland® collection, we ensure full food traceability, working with local food and drink producers wherever possible to offer our guests a menu that is flavoursome, healthy and less impactful on the environment. Dining in or taking away, you will be warmly welcomed in our contemporary, fully licensed restaurant. With a wheelchair-accessible toilet and baby-changing facilities, we are committed to providing an inclusive dining experience for all our guests. Find more information about accessibility here.

Meet the Team

  • Nick Clough

    HEAD CHEF

  • Jason Simpson

    SOUS CHEF

  • Bob Leahy

    FRY CHEF

  • Aaron Norton

    SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

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Our Mission, Vision and Values

  • At Fish City, our mission is to deliver a memorable dining experience that combines high-quality food with outstanding service. We strive to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere where guests can enjoy delicious meals while promoting sustainable fishing practices and environmental stewardship.

  • Our vision at Fish City is to be recognised as the premier Fish & Chip Restaurant in Ireland, known for our commitment to sustainable sourcing, exceptional customer service, and community engagement. We aim to be a trusted and sought-after destination for seafood lovers, offering a diverse menu that celebrates the best of responsibly sourced food.

  • Our focus on health starts with our team, who enjoy the benefit of private healthcare and access to a range of support programmes. We advocate for fish as a nutrient-rich part of a healthy, balanced diet and offer to cook for our guests with beef dripping and vegetable oil, when feasible. We maintain MenuCal accreditation and CalorieWise certification and have achieved notable health accolades including the Catey Award for ‘Health & Nutrition’ (The Caterer, 2019) and the UK’s Healthy Eating Award (National Fish & Chip Awards, 2018).

  • We are proud to be the first MSC-certified restaurant in Northern Island and on the island of Ireland, as well as the first NI business to join Sustainable Fish Cities NI, an environmental campaign focused on seafood sustainability led by Ulster Wildlife and Nourish NI. An MCS Gold member, we have been recognised as an MSC Regional Hero, Environmental / Sustainability Award Winner (FSB NI Awards, 2022), Best Green Business (Women in Business Awards, 2023), and the UK’s Environment & Sustainability Champion (National Fish & Chip Awards, 2023).

  • As the UK’s Fish & Chip Restaurant of the Year 2023 (National Fish & Chip Awards), our enduring commitment to quality is in the consistent preparation, innovation, and service of award-winning food, drink and hospitality. Our Front of House team take pride in providing our guests with outstanding service and warm hospitality and work toward established certifications in guest service. Northern Ireland’s first fully licensed fish & chip restaurant, we also provide a dedicated al fresco outdoor dining experience on the Terrace in the heart of Belfast City Centre.

  • Education amongst our team, guests, local communities and the public is integral to the Fish City ethos. We develop, implement, and maintain programmes of staff training for our team, with sponsors in Hospitality Ulster, Core Impact, the NFFF, and the Belfast Met. We provide our team with relevant educational field trips and support individual team members through a range of career and professional development opportunities. Within the local community, we offer a free educational Kids Club for school children to learn about seafood sustainability.

The Fish City team are central to our ethos—

well motivated, enthusiastic and knowledgeable with a genuine, friendly approach. Explore rewarding opportunities as a part of our team.

‘We are proudly the first business in Northern Ireland to pledge our support in buying and serving seafood from sustainable sources, using sustainable catch methods in seas where species are healthy and thriving.’

— John Lavery, Owner

Featured in

Awards & Accolades

2023-2024

  • UK Fish & Chip Restaurant of the Year, and Environment & Sustainability Award, National Fish & Chip Awards 2023

  • MSC UK Foodservice Champion of the Year, and Marketing Champion of the Year, MSC UK Awards 2023

  • Green Tourism Gold Award, 2024

  • UK 10 Best Fish & Chip Restaurants, Fry Magazine Fry Awards 2022-2024

  • Best Sustainable Practices, County Antrim, Irish Restaurant Awards Ulster 2024

  • The Sustainability Award, Irish Takeaway Awards 2024

  • Best Green Business - Grainne O’Loane, Women in Business Awards 2023

  • Restaurant of the Year & Sustainability Award Finalist, Good Food Ireland Awards 2023

  • Green Marketing / Stakeholder Engagement Initiative of the Year Award Finalist, All-Ireland Sustainability Awards

Selected Awards

  • Environmental / Sustainability Award, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Celebrating Small Business Awards NI 2022

  • Food & Drink Family Business of the Year 2022, Business Eye Family Business Awards

  • Best Eatery, Belfast Chamber Business Awards, 2019-2021

  • Health & Nutrition Award, The Cateys, 2019

  • Menu Development & Innovation Award, National Fish & Chip Awards, 2020

  • Seafood Establishment of the Year, The Food Awards Northern Ireland, 2019 & 2022

  • Healthy Eating Award & Good Catch ‘Sustainability’ Award, National Fish & Chip Awards 2018

  • ‘Good Catch’ Sustainable Seafood Award, National Fish & Chip Awards, 2017

  • Highly Commended, Sustainable Tourism Award, Northern Ireland Tourism Awards 2017

  • The Taste of New York Award for Best Chip Shop in Belfast, NI Fish & Chip Shop Awards 2023

Charities

The History of No. 33 and Ann Street

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Good Food Ireland® approved

The definitive trustmark for local food and drink experiences on the island of Ireland, Good Food Ireland® audits its members, ensuring businesses with the Good Food Ireland® seal of approval provide guests and visitors to the island with authentic, premium experiences focused on certified quality, sustainability, and local food and culture.

Protecting our oceans for future generations

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