13 West Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9AU
Established in 1967 and one of only a few places in Essex to have been recognised by the National Federation of Fish Friers with the prestigious Fish & Chips Quality Award, Oldhams in Westcliff-On-Sea is THE place to go in the region if you’re craving the nation’s favourite dish.
With a well-established reputation for serving some of the finest fish and chips in Essex, this family-owned fish restaurant has had one clear aim since it opened over 50 years ago – to consistently serve the highest quality fresh ingredients fried in top-quality oil – and this it has certainly achieved.
Whether you’re a local resident, attending a show at the nearby Palace Theatre, or you’re just visiting Southend for the day, the restaurant’s experienced and caring staff, consistent approach, and traditional menu full of comforting classic dishes, which includes an extensive choice of fish, chicken and beef burgers, and steak and kidney pie, makes it well worth a visit. There’s also a good selection of vegetarian dishes like spring rolls, vegetarian nuggets, cheese and vegetable country bakes and spicy beanburgers, along with a delicious range of Rossi ice creams to round things off.
With fish sourced from sustainable fishing grounds such as The Faroe Islands, Iceland and Norway wherever possible, Oldhams is proud to support sustainable fisheries in their purchasing and ethical sourcing of other products. Last year, Oldhams also joined the fish fight campaign run by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall to raise awareness of by-catch or discards. By-catch or discards, where dead, are often perfectly usable fish that are thrown overboard and are a clear waste of natural resources. One way the restaurant is tackling this issue is by offering other species of fish, such as Dabs, to help create a demand for more of the by-catch so the quota would increase for this type of dish. Another way has been to buy more line-caught cod and haddock.
A popular spot for a takeaway, Oldhams also makes for a delightful place to dine in, with two fully licensed, light and airy table-service restaurants that can accommodate 32 diners on the ground floor and 42 diners upstairs. With a fine selection of ale and lager available, as well as a great choice of wine by the glass or bottle, fans of the nation’s favourite dish will find what they are looking for and then some at Oldhams of Westcliff.
Look out for our review of Oldhams of Westcliff in our soon to be released Essex Food & Drink Guide 2020. Read a digital copy of last year’s guide (where the review also features) here, or pick up your free copy of the guide here.
Also, for more on Oldhams of Westcliff, be sure to visit their website or follow them on their social media channels.
