10 top fish 'n' chip shops in Britain and Ireland

From Yorkshire battered fish deep fried in beef dripping, to an award-winning Pembrokeshire chippy
Food: Fish and chips
Fancy fry ... traditional fish and chips. Photograph: Eleanor Bentall/Corbis

Audrey's Fish and Chip Shop, Bridlington, Yorkshire
The authentic fish and chip experience. Moist on the inside and encased in a crisp batter shell, the fish is cooked the way it should be: deep fried in blisteringly hot beef dripping. Maris Piper chips come double cooked, with fluffy centres. Wash it all down with a mug of the sort of tea you could stand a spoon up in. Tables come with brown melamine tops and comedy light-bulb salt dispensers.

McDonagh's, Galway, Co Galway
A glance at the press clippings on the wall of McDonagh's fish and chip shop will give you some idea of just how far word of this Irish chippie has spread. Among the uniformly glowing reviews, there's an official letter from an admiral of the Russian navy, stating that on all his travels he had never come across a better plate of fish and chips. Local customers tend to agree with the Russians.

Flora Tea Rooms, Dunwich, Suffolk
Most visitors eat at the more famous chippie in Aldeburgh, but locals skip the queues and coach parties and come here. It's hidden away in the unlikely setting of the beach car park, but don't let that put you off: this is the real deal, serving freshly caught skate in crunchy batter. If it's sunny, try to grab a picnic table on the edge of the beach.

Magpie Cafe, Whitby, North Yorkshire
You'll probably have to queue for your lunch, but patience is a virtue when your reward is what many regard as the best fish and chips in the world. The Magpie has been an institution for more than 100 years. Choose battered cod or haddock seared in beef dripping, or forego tradition for a speciality menu that includes lobster thermidor, a skewer of monkfish or grilled Whitby plaice with tarragon sauce.

Stein's Fish and Chips, Padstow, Cornwall
A restaurant, bistro, cafe and deli wasn't enough for Rick Stein. "I've always wanted a fish and chip shop in Padstow," says the man himself. This is an upmarket take on the traditional chippie, serving john dory and monkfish along with cod and haddock, although prices are reasonable: a takeaway costs £5.25. If you want a seat, queue early.

Allports, Pwllheli, Gwynedd
Owners Sarah and John set up their second Welsh fish and chip shop in Pwllheli in 1999. Since then this friendly, family-oriented place has won several awards from the industry authority Seafish, twice scooping the prize for Welsh fish and chip shop of the year.

Porthminster Beach Cafe Takeaway, St Ives, Cornwall
Porthminster Beach Cafe occupies a wonderful spot overlooking St Ives Bay to Godrevy. But don't hang around upstairs - swan through this swanky restaurant and head down to the basement, where you can buy a delicious bundle of battered fish and enjoy it right on the beach. Heaven.

Pittenweem Fish Bar, Pittenweem, Fife
Nothing ups the ante on the quality of your fish supper like a healthy fish and chip shop rivalry. In the red corner, the Anstruther Fish Bar is one of Scotland's most famous chippies, with countless awards and queues around the block. In the blue corner, the Pittenweem Fish Bar is the more traditional title challenger. We recommend you try both, although for our money, Pittenweem sneaks ahead due to its newspaper wrapping and delicious, crunchy batter.

Sandy's Fish and Chips, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire

A shop with a special place in the hearts, not to mention the coronary arteries, of the people of Scotland: it's the birthplace of the legendary deep-fried Mars bar. If that doesn't take your fancy, you would be well advised to stick to Sandy's other staple: huge portions of mouth-wateringly tasty haddock and chips. Mel Gibson stopped in while filming Hamlet at nearby Dunnottar Castle.

D Fecci and Sons, Tenby, Pembrokeshire
The award-winning Fecci's uses the same recipe for cooking fish as it did when the shop opened in 1935. Their food is local - fresh fish from Milford Haven, potatoes sourced only from Pembrokeshire - and absolutely delicious.