Five of the best fish and chip shops in Brighton and Hove

To celebrate, we have served up a list of the five best plaices to get the classic seaside treat in Brighton and Hove.

You cod not disagree that we are spoilt for choice when it comes to this kind of food, with an abundance of fantastic restaurants, pubs and chippies throughout the city selling their own spin on it.

It was a tough task to narrow it down, but we feel these establishments deserve their titles.

This year is the second time the nationwide event has been celebrated.

It could be off the scales, according to the National Edible Oil Distributors’ Association (NEODA), which organises the event.

The association said: “Following the resounding success of last year’s National Fish and Chip Day, NEODA is delighted to announce that fish and chip lovers across the UK are coming together again to celebrate the nation’s favourite dish on Friday.

“National Fish and Chip Day 2018 is set to be even bigger than last year.

“It brings together everyone involved in creating this iconic British dish; from fish and chip shops, pub chains, restaurants, retailers, to the fisherman and farmers who provide the sustainable and natural ingredients needed to create this family favourite.”

You can join in with the celebrations on Twitter using the hashtag #nationalfishandchipday.

l Do you think we have missed something on this list? Let us know your favourite place at theargus.co.uk.

1. THE Melrose Restaurant simply has to take the number one spot.

Owned by the Shiarlis family, it has a quaint decor and sits in the perfect location to enjoy a portion of fish and chips.

Sitting in King’s Road, the restaurant overlooks Brighton’s seafront – no better area to enjoy your food in the sunshine.

Co-owner Mary Shiarlis has been involved in the business for 50 years, and she ensures her customers get great service.

She said: “We sell fresh fish made to order – it is never cooked before.

“Our cod is hook and line, and we make the batter for it very light.

“It is then cooked in rapeseed oil so it is suitable for nearly everyone’s dietary requirements, and we make sure we sell the biggest pieces of fish around.”

2. NOT far behind the Melrose is the Regency in second place.

There is not much to choose between them in terms of location, either, as they are joint side by side in King’s Road, with Roberto Savvides’s restaurant tailing off into Regency Square.

He has been the owner for 30 years, and has had the same chef, Manuel Da Costa, for the same time. Roberto said: “Manuel knows the fish better than anybody else in this town.

“Everything is made to order. It’s out the fryer, on the plate and out to the customers within five minutes.”

3. BARDSLEY’S in Brighton’s Baker Street is held in high esteem.

It has been passed through generations since Ben Bardsley opened it in Shoreham in 1926.

He was originally a blacksmith from Burnley, but made the move south.

Bardsley’s was also in Upper Russell Street, Brighton, and Portslade and Hove before the fish restaurant relocated to its current spot in 1963. It is now in the capable hands of Ben’s great-great grandson, Neil, who became part of the family business aged 14 back in 1989.

We have opted to place Bardsley’s in third place, though many residents may believe it should be higher.

Neil said: “We try to only use sustainable fish, like just using sea bass which has been farmed.

“Our trout, sea bass and sea trout is superb at the moment.”

4. WOLFIES of Hove has been serving the city for 25 years.

Danny Keston and his father Dave run the Goldstone Villas business, and aim to use as much Sussex-based or sustainable produce as possible – another reason for them to be number four on our guide.

They also sell special dishes every Friday and Saturday – and have all the more reason to be plotting their next concoction today to celebrate National Fish and Chip Day.

One of their finest one-offs was a portion of gin and tonic battered scallops.

But Danny, 36, was keeping today’s special under wraps.

He said: “We’ve got an interesting special to celebrate today but don’t want to give anything away. We try to use as much local fish as possible, and we’ve got a micropub next door, so use locally brewed beers for batter.”

5. LAST but not least in our top five is All In One.

Out of town compared with the rest, the takeaway shop is at the bottom of Park Road in Coldean.

Owner Nasser Bandar has been plying his trade at the same store for the past 25 years – no mean feat in such a competitive industry.

He is certainly confident about what he has to offer customers, too, who seem to enjoy his food as much as he does.

Nasser said: “I know I am the best takeaway in Brighton and Hove.

“The quality of the fish, the oil and the batter is excellent here.

“We have a secret ingredient in the batter mix which makes it so good.”

He added: “I have never had a complaint about my fish in the past 25 years, so I must be doing something right.