Beccles Fish Bar — Restaurant in East Suffolk

After 14 months of living in Beccles, I finally found myself in the perfect situation to try out a local chippy. Being the closest at the time, and having seen hoards of people queuing/waiting in the past, I thought I'd give Beccles Fish Bar a shot.

I wasn't disappointed. There was a steady flow of customers going in through the door, but orders were taken swiftly and the well oiled machine of staff behind the counter were ticking over like a troupe of expert plate spinners.

Order taken, it was time to stand outside and watch the throng. More customers arriving, and order numbers being called out for those soon to be lucky enough to be enjoying a rapid car journey home, surrounded by that special fish n chip aroma. Soon enough it was my turn. Number called, then a member of staff brough my order outside to me and exchanged it for the numbered ticket I'd been given on ordering.

So, double wrapped haddock, chips and mushy peas were placed in my rucksack, with all the care of a dozen fresh eggs. Nobody wants squashed haddock! Arriving home in record time on my pushbike, the parcel was popped into the oven while the obligatory rolls were buttered. Ten minutes later, the meal of the day was in front of me, in all its battered and deep fried glory.

As I said at the beginning of this novel, I wasn't disappointed. Tasty, flaky fish with crisp batter and a portion of perfect chips. If there was one thing that could've been better, the mushy peas could be slightly thicker, but they didn't detract from this gloriously British tradition.

Top marks all round. I don't think I need to try anywhere else now. It'll be...

Have been coming here for over ten years and on the whole the food is decent enough. Used to be consistently excellent, but more recently the quality seems to vary so much. Prices are good, chips are fairly consistent with mostly good portion sizes, sausages are usually very good but you do occasionally get one burned black, same with the scampi. The Cod is generously cut however, and often with good flavour and well cooked but what really lets it down, probably seven times out of ten, is that it isn’t drained long enough before being put into the paper and wrapped up heavy handedly, tighter than a drum. The end result is pulpy, wet batter, mushy fish and soggy chips, saturated in oil. This only seems to be a problem when they’re wrapped though, open is always very good but not worth complaining as it doesn’t change, just got to take your chances really. Never leave without checking your order either, especially if you live out of town as they will forget multiple things, every week, guaranteed.

When it’s good it’s fantastic, but when it’s not, it’s inedible. If the fish were well drained, gently wrapped, order slips double checked and just the old standards brought back, I’d have...

Been to this fish and chip shop once a week for over a year. Haddock and chips open ever time. The fish the last few times just hasn't been good. The batter seems old and the fish just seems dry. I know the fish is delivered in every other day.

The point is its not freshly cooked like it was. You wait over 10 minutes to be served and then get a substandard product with recently increased prices.

I raised this point 2 weeks ago (over the phone), the owner than was argumentative.

Last week the fish was as before nice, then this week rubbish. I drove round the block and back in to ask for a replacement from the manager / owner arguing when the fish was delivered today.

He offered me refund when all I wanted was a fresh haddock to be cooked?! As I was leaving he asked I didn't return, and with that I wont. You shouldn't bury your head in the sand and listen to what customers have to say.

I hope other customer get a different experience but I just feel annoyed as a loyal customer this is the service I get.

To the owner - try a fresh bit of fish 2 mins out of the fryer - then leave one for 15 / 20 mins in the cabinet and try it. Thats the difference I am...