Five Fish and Chip Shops to Try in Poole

Few meals suit Poole better than freshly cooked fish and chips. We can eat them overlooking the boats on Poole Quay, settle into a traditional restaurant beside Holes Bay or collect a local chippy tea to enjoy at home.

These five fish and chip shops offer distinctly different experiences, from large waterfront restaurants to independent neighbourhood takeaways. Rather than attempting to rank them, we have focused on what makes each one worth knowing about.

Best for: harbour views and a family meal

Harlees occupies one of the most prominent fish-and-chip locations in Poole, directly on the Quay with panoramic views across the harbour and towards Brownsea Island.

Its large, air-conditioned restaurant can accommodate up to 90 diners, making it a practical choice for families, groups and visitors who would rather sit down than balance a takeaway box beside the water. Advance reservations are not normally required, although the Quay can become especially busy during summer weekends and major events.

Cod and haddock remain at the centre of the menu, alongside seasonal fish and other seafood dishes when available. Harlees states that its cod and haddock are responsibly sourced from the Barents Sea. A separate takeaway service means we can also collect food and find our own harbourfront spot.

This is the obvious choice when the location is part of the experience. It is particularly convenient before a boat trip, after visiting Poole Museum or during one of the Quay’s summer events.

Photo: Instagram

Best for: traditional restaurant dining away from the busiest Quay crowds

Lakeside Fish & Chips is positioned on Lifeboat Quay, close to Holes Bay and Poole’s Twin Sails Bridge. The waterfront setting feels noticeably different from the tourist activity around the main Quay.

Customers can choose between the sit-down restaurant and a separate takeaway service. The restaurant menu extends beyond battered cod and chips to dishes such as plaice, salmon, whitebait, calamari, prawns and seafood platters, subject to the current menu and availability.

The takeaway food is freshly prepared and cooked to order, while click-and-collect is also offered. Lakeside currently publishes a separate gluten-free menu, although anyone with an allergy or intolerance should contact the restaurant directly to discuss preparation and cross-contamination before ordering.

This is a useful choice for a more traditional fish-restaurant experience, particularly when some people want classic fish and chips and others would prefer a broader seafood dish.

Photo: Facebook

Best for: a broad choice of fish and lighter alternatives

Parkway Fish Bar offers far more variety than its modest takeaway appearance might initially suggest.

Alongside battered cod and haddock, the current online menu lists options including plaice, pollock, hake, hoki and locally caught huss. Several fish choices can also be ordered in breadcrumbs rather than batter, providing a lighter and crunchier alternative.

The takeaway also offers lunchtime specials, smaller portions, scampi, fish bites and familiar chip-shop extras. Its OAP fish-and-chip meal combines a small cod with a small portion of chips, which may suit anyone who finds a full chippy portion overwhelming.

Located on Parkstone Road, Parkway is convenient for residents around Poole Park, Lower Parkstone and the town centre. It is less about a scenic dining setting and more about choice, convenience and a traditional local takeaway experience.

Photo: ParkwayFishBar

Best for: a local chippy tea and fish and chips with a Poole connection

All-Ways Fryday is a Hamworthy fish-and-chip shop with an unusual connection to one of Poole’s most memorable visitor experiences.

The business supplies the meals served aboard Coastal Cruises Poole’s fish-and-chip cruises. Passengers receive freshly prepared fish and chips while sailing around Poole Harbour, passing Brownsea Island and Sandbanks. Poole Tourism describes All-Ways Fryday as an award-winning local fish-and-chip shop.

Away from the boats, it operates as a neighbourhood takeaway serving the Hamworthy and Upton areas. Its menu and promotional offers can change, so checking the shop’s current official social pages or contacting it directly is advisable before travelling.

This is a particularly fitting choice when we want our fish and chips to feel connected to Poole itself - whether collected locally or eaten during an evening cruise across the harbour.

Photo: Facebook

Best for: a straightforward traditional takeaway

Kings on Coles Avenue provides the classic neighbourhood-chippy experience: familiar food, online ordering and the choice to eat in or take away.

The menu centres on cod, chips, sausages, pies, burgers and chicken. Current online prices include regular and large cod, several portion sizes and a range of traditional chip-shop sides. Customers can order and pay online before collecting, avoiding a longer wait during busy evening periods.

Kings is not trying to recreate a polished waterfront restaurant. Its appeal lies in being a dependable local shop where families can collect a familiar, uncomplicated meal.

The business advises customers with allergies or intolerances to speak to the shop directly before placing an online order. This is important because fryers and preparation areas may be shared between different menu items.

Photo: KingsFishandChips