There’s nothing in the world like fish and chips. Considered by many to be the pinnacle of British culinary culture, this simply but oh so tasty meal is beloved by rich and poor, old and young, on hot summer weekend nights or cold winter evenings. It’s unbeatable. Now, with gluten-free fish and chips options on the rise, let’s take a look at where you can find them throughout the UK 

As a takeaway, or as a filling meal at a pub or a fancy restaurant, few dishes can claim to be as popular or consistently good as fish and chips. A meal like no other, the hot dish which originated in England has proven popular throughout the world. 

Finding good fish and chip shops and restaurants is all important. Many will have their favourite (often their local), while real connoisseurs will search all over the country for the best. 

But for those who suffer from coeliac disease, it’s not just about finding tasty fish and chips – it’s also about finding fish and chips which categorically don’t contain gluten. 

In this article, I’ll give you an insight into where you might find them. Before that though, let’s go back to basics. 

What are the straightforward things I need to know about coeliac disease?

Let’s take a crash course in what coeliac disease is and what you need to know about it. 

Coeliac disease is a condition where a person is hypersensitive to gluten, meaning that they find it difficult to digest certain types of food which have gluten in them. Gluten can be found in food substances like wheat, barley, and grain. 

Those who have coeliac disease and who have consumed something with gluten in it can find themselves with painful symptoms, ranging from indigestion to vomiting – and worse. 

It has been reported that as many as 1 in every 100 people in the UK could have some form of gluten intolerance, meaning that, if you don’t have it, it’s likely that you’ll have a family member or friend who does. 

More and more is being written about coeliac disease, due to the fact that diagnoses are becoming more common. As awareness about it has grown, so too has the introduction of gluten-free alternatives to common food products or dishes. 

For this article, we’ll take a look at how gluten-free fish and chips have become a popular food option in shops across the UK. 

What are gluten-free fish and chips? 

Firstly, let’s stress that neither fish, nor chips (which are made of potatoes), naturally have gluten in them. 

However, it is common for fish and chip shops to make batter for their fish products with gluten. They might also use a gluten-containing flavouring on their chips, or cook their products in a gluten-contaminated fryer. So, most fish and chip meals don’t tend to be gluten-free unless indicated. 

‘Gluten-free fish and chips’ simply means the absence of any of these gluten-containing products from the making of the meal. 

Many fish and chip shops which do a gluten-free version of the meal pride themselves on it. If you see the ‘GF’ knife & fork sign at your local fish and chip shop – it means it has gained approval from Coeliac UK and it is therefore gluten-free and safe to eat there. 

It’s worth noting that salt and vinegar are gluten-free too, meaning that you won’t have to worry about still adding your favourite common seasonings and condiments to your dish! 

Where can I get gluten-free fish and chips in the UK?

You might be wondering where to get gluten-free fish and chips after learning what they are. Here’s a handy guide to help you find the best places to enjoy them.

In the UK, there are hundreds of restaurant locations that boast that they’re gluten-free. 

For myself, I’ve turned to a website called My Gluten Free Guide, which lists hundreds of restaurants throughout the country that offer gluten-free fish and chips. 

The list is compiled by one writer, but it features submissions from hundreds of gluten-intolerant readers from across the UK. These submissions detail local restaurants in a huge variety of areas – from Guernsey to Durham, and from Northern Ireland to Aberdeen – all of which specifically offer gluten-free fish and chips. Many of these submissions also give helpful tips, phone numbers, websites, advice for coeliac sufferers, safety information about restaurants, and pointers on who you should speak to in a given restaurant if you’re uncertain about anything.

Many of the restaurants are Coeliac UK certified, meaning that they’re reliably free from gluten. 

Among some of my own favourites on the list are Harry’s Shack – an excellent fish and chips gourmet restaurant in Portstewart with a gorgeous view of Portstewart Strand and the North Sea. 

I’ve also enjoyed Stein’s in the past, which has location in Falmouth, Plymouth and Newquay. Here you’ll find world-renowned food, excellent views, and unbeatable taste. 

Where else can I look for gluten-free fish and chip shops? 

Thanks to increased demand, you’ll find more and more blogs, news articles and lists which are highlighting gluten-free fish and chip shops. In fact, there’s no shortage of restaurants and shops in the UK which are offering gluten-free fish and chip options. 

You can easily find a place nearby if you’re in London, but you might get a pleasant surprise from your local chippie if you’re from somewhere else. They have adapted to gluten-free ways too.

Explore, search around, follow the advice of fellow coeliacs online, and discover some truly delicious fish and chip options near you. 

My own advice? Ask and you shall receive

Those who have gluten intolerance are probably sick (pardon the pun) of hearing this by now, but it is always worth talking to the people who are making, producing or serving your food to get full information. 

I’ve shared a list above with a number of gluten-free restaurants, and mentioned places where you might find more gluten-free outlets. But I’m under no illusion that this list won’t cover even a fraction of the restaurants out there that are doing good gluten-free fish and chips. 

So you might ask, well, what can I do to find them? 

My advice is start talking to chefs, servers, restaurant owners, and suppliers about gluten intolerance. If you get speaking to someone and they reveal that their products are gluten-free, then great! You’ve just uncovered a new restaurant to add to the lists above!

If they tell you their products aren’t gluten-free, then use that to start a dialogue. Maybe they aren’t fully aware of the impact gluten can have on a diet, so maybe you’ll want to let them know. If you feel that they’re responsive, you could ask them if they’ll look into a gluten-free alternative. 

You might feel like you’re kicking up a fuss, but it’s worth remembering that it was only because of coeliac sufferers ‘kicking up a fuss’ in the first place that we began to learn how widespread this illness is in the UK. With greater awareness about gluten intolerance, and with more diagnoses and medical information, we’ll begin to see more gluten-free options on menus in the future. 

What if I AM a fish and chip shop owner and want to provide gluten-free alternatives? 

First up, good for you for taking the initiative! The gluten-free community thanks you for reaching out and wanting to help coeliac sufferers! 

There is plenty of advice out there for fish and chip shops looking to serve gluten-free food. If you’re looking for the standard advice, Coeliac UK will set you right. 

They say that people with coeliac disease should steer clear of gluten-containing foods when they want to eat gluten-free fish and chips. They explain that even a tiny bit of gluten can trigger symptoms and damage the gut.

Some more pointers for fish and chip shops which are looking to provide gluten-free meals:

– Separate, clean oil should be used to fry chips and/or gluten-free battered fish. Simply filtering oil is not sufficient. (They also suggest that a realistic way to accommodate gluten intolerant people is to have a separate fryer. Or have a dedicated ‘gluten free night’ on the day they clean the chip fryer and use fresh oil.)

– Coeliac UK advise that some of the other foods served in a fish and chip shop may also be suitable for a gluten-free diet, including baked beans, tomato ketchup and salad dressing, among other things. You can check the labels, or check Coealic UK Food and Drink to find the right gluten-free brands. 

– You can also find gluten free batter mixes in the Coeliac UK Food and Drink Directory.

As standard, it is also recommended that fish and chip shops thoroughly clean mixing equipment before using gluten free mixes. This is to make sure wheat flour does not contaminate the gluten free batter. It can be particularly unpleasant when you think you’re getting a gluten-free meal, only to discover that contamination has occurred! 

Here’s the finding more gluten-free fish and chip shops in the future. 

Happy – and healthy – eating!