Whitby has a reputation as having the“best fish and chips” in the world.

And earlier this year, Fry Awards even announced The Magpie Café and Trenchers, located just metres apart in Whitby, as two of the prestigious top ten best fish and chips in the UK.

Whitby, a coastal town in Yorkshire, northern England, is a charming place split by the River Esk with a rich history.

Overlooking the North Sea is the ruined Gothic Whitby Abbey and St Mary’s church, which was reportedly the source of inspiration for Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”. 

West Cliff beach, lined with beach huts, also offers great views of the lighthouse, summer donkey rides, and countless options to enjoy a classic fish and chips. 

Upon visiting the picturesque seaside town, Emma Gill, Parents Editor at Manchester Evening News, marvelled at the wide choice of chippies.

Gill and her family opted for Terry’s Fish Bar, an eatery near the pier that offers a sit-down experience. 

“We were seated quickly and handed the menus, which feature everything you’d typically expect inside a decent chip shop”, she shared.

“Once settled, it was time to order, and we knew exactly what we were getting – cod, chips and curry sauce for us grown-ups and battered sausage and chips for the kids. Nobody counts calories on holiday.”

The fish and chips were on the costly side for the classic beach scran, at £14.95 apiece, while the children’s sausage and chips were £12.50.

However, Gill noted that the prices seemed reasonably higher as they chose a sit-down establishment over a takeaway which can leave many “wandering around in search of a wall or bench to sit on – with a daughter ducking from the birds and a dog diving towards them”.

“Obviously the food played the largest part in that and it really was delicious”, she wrote. “We could have done with a few more chips than the cute serving frying baskets could hold, but the ones that came were perfectly cooked, as was the fish, which was a decent size and covered in the crispest of batter.”

Overall, Gill gave her stamp of approval of Whitby’s fish and chips reputation, concluding: “If Terry’s is anything to go by, then those locals might just be right with their bold claims.”