Bells Fish and Chips — Restaurant in Framwellgate Moor

I have rated this 4 star as opposed to 5 on basis of misleading menu. We ordered cod and chips with mushy peas and haddock and chips, no mushy peas, and x2 pots of tea. Hardly any wait at all. The food arrived swifltly and beautifully presented but extremely weirdly, served with a humongous side salad! We did not ask for a salad and it was a large portion of salad which we both felt did not blend well with fish & chips ( not anti-salad generally) and we certainly would not have requested this and WAS NOT asked if we wanted half chips and half salad by the server. A larger portion of chips would have been preferable and it would have been nice if he had made it clear when ordering if we were compromising our chips portion for salad which in no world of mine does salad go with fish and chips! Also the salad had strawberries in it! Apparently according to external signage outside the restaurant, it states this restaurant is a WINNER 🏆 in some top notch food/dinning capacity. I do think the food is very acceptable but not outstanding by any means ( have tasted far better in North Shields for sure) but it was very tasty and welcome as we were hungry after a very busy gardening day and the food was very well presented. The two staff members serving that day were polite and efficient. I noticed it also serves alcohol so that is an interesting quirk to a fish & chip shop. Definitely better a pint with your fish & chips than a salad! Sadly we both had to drive that day so not an option. I would certainly visit again and order WITHOUT salad making it very clear to server because clearly its their policy to assume you want half salad and half chips. It has decent amount of parking on site. We used the bathroom too which was clean and good hand drier and nice soap and moisturiser available. It was not extortionate prices but not cheap. Usual expensive fish & chip prices,we have all been forced to accept,...

First night out in Durham for more than 8 months. All professionals together having a great time. Been to Bells in the city many many times and never experienced a meal below near perfect. However, whilst ordering at 1940hrs on 11th December 2021, a female member of staff walked through from the restaurant to the takeaway side, and ordered 2 customers out of the stop! They weren’t with my party, but they were simply happy, singing and in good spirits! After all, it’s Christmas, what would one expect? She was offensive! She then told everyone in the shop that singing is banned!! We were appalled, drink wasn’t a factor for me, I remember the event clearly, hence I mention the time, so that the owner can check their CCTV. I was discussing the event with one of my friends while waiting for our food, when the female again returned to the counter and said, “If you want food, then I suggest you stop taking about me!’ I asked if she was the owner, to which she replied “No”. As this was recorded on my friends mobile phone, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it on YouTube. Overall, great food, very very poor staff! I hope the owner follows this up. This happened in the Restaurant in Market...

We've been going to this particular Bells for years now, but unfortunately the last few times we've been have shown a decline in quality. I'm gluten intolerant and this used to be my go to place for fish and chips, but the last few times have been really disappointing. The chips have become hard in texture and taste old. They don't have the soft texture that the non gluten free ones do and they taste bad. The fish is always nice inside, but the batter was swimming in grease and far too thick. I also had the GF onion rings, which were swimming in a bowl of grease and made me feel nauseous from bite. I also suspect they're watering down the tartar sauce as it's much thinner than usual and they're stingy with how much they fill the pots now.

Unfortunately, the service is also going down hill as the wait staff can be moody which doesn't make for a particularly nice atmosphere. It's such a shame as we used to love it here, but for the high prices they charge its absolutely not worth it as I barely ate any of my meal. I hope they can listen to feedback and improve as the gluten free fish and chips used...