Balsall Fish Bar in Solihull

Overcooked, dried out and fish want not good, I can see why they have received a one star rating from the food agency.

Chips were ok, I’ve had worse but I wouldn’t come back.

I have been going into this chippy for many years and it has gone downhill completely. I bought mini fish and chips recently and they were both disgusting. And it happened last time I bought from the place but I thought I would give them another chance. I had to wait for the chips to be cooked which I didn't mind, I thought they would be nice and fresh. But they were awful, so dry, and lots of tiny little pieces of chips in amongst them. The fish were flavourless and the batter was dry, very thin, and horrible. We had bad stomachs afterwards which lasted through the night. This place used to be the best chippy for miles around but I think it has changed management in some respect and after at least 10 years I won't be going there again. I have got better things to do than waste my time doing a review but I feel so annoyed about how the Balsall Fish Bar has deteriorated so much that, because I couldn't find an email address to really vent my feelings, I decided to write this review.

Fish was tough not cheap expect better quality for the money

Balsall Fish Bar is first class in virtually every aspect: clean, modern, with friendly and obliging staff. The fayre served up here (though not 'cheapo') is always delicious and beautifully cooked. Also, they accept cash OR card and provide a receipt. You can pre-order by phone and collect from a tiny counter directly opposite the entrance door; convenient and can save time. *UPDATE* Unfortunately, last meal purchased chips were 'under par' (mushy and greasy consistency). Some new staff members, so perhaps a 'one off'; will update again next visit. *FURTHER UPDATE* We've bought several meals from Balsall Fish Bar since and the good news is that everything was first class in every single aspect. Five stars then!

Absolutely disgusting how you can call this a large portion of mediocre chips and charge around £5 for them! Gone right down the pan this place. Will not be returning if this is what you get. You’ve got Kenilworth and Meriden chippys just down the road that are much better.

Nice food but so expensive compared to others. The fish was nice as were the chips but the portion sizes are tiny. I had to question if it was a special before It got wrapped as I was expecting more than 2 scoops of chips. I was told it was a standard portion size and was charged full price to my suprise. However, the food quality was nice there just wasn't enough for the price I was charged. Anywhere else what I was served would've a special (small size)

Went to buy fish and chips at 8.00 - baring in mind they shut at 9.00 - but no fish at all just a really horrid spring roll and a not very nice fish cake. Chips were cold. Really bad experience. Will be going to Knowle in future.

Thought I'd try here as on the way home. Nice fresh chips, although smaller portion than my usual place and quite a lot of batter on fish, but fish tasted good. Two young lads serving were very good, but man doing the cooking was very brusque and rude to them and customers. Maybe he was having a bad day!!

Terrible! Burnt fish and burnt chips. Very expensive for an inedible burnt meal …! Called and not really interested; blamed it on the potato crop …!

Chips were ok but gave everyone a bad stomach later in the evening. Battered sausages are tiny and the normal sausage wasn’t great. Most certainly won’t be returning and fully recommend you go elsewhere.

Best fish & chips for many a month!

Always very friendly, food is always fresh, staff are super polite and friendly,

Incredible food. Came in nice, neat bags, smelling fresh. Decent people behind the counter, making it the best fish and chip shop around.

You arrive there half an hour or more before closing time, and basically there is no food left, no offer at all to cook anything fresh while you wait, so it is a case of take it or leave it.Also now very expensive £10.00 plus for a portion of fish and chips.

great food great service we use this place once a week and can't fault it at all the food is tasty , never had a bad meal

Have been told this is the best chippy around and my experience underlined that. Really tasty fish and chips are plentiful and good. Very pricey but guess you pay for what you get. Can get busy, particularly early on Friday evenings.

Best fish and chips I've had in a while.

Nice food, freshly cooked. Staff very friendly and helpful

Literally the worst done kebab ever. Literal sand paper. Drier than sand. Dull like mud. Salad was terrible. Chips mediocre. Shocking that they serve doner like that, disgrace to chip shops.

Haven't been here for over 20 years. The food was delicious then and years later is even more delicious. We had large fish and chips / large sausage and chips. The food was piping hot and was so yummy! I'll make sure it's not another 20 years before I return. Very friendly staff here also. Thankyou.

Fish and chips are always great here and the girl today gave me such a lovely, genuine smile when serving me - those things really make a difference. I regularly cheat on my local fish and chip shop with this place and I regret nothing.

A very good chippy I pop in here after visiting wellesborne market every Saturday on my way home . Lovely chips & are happy to put plenty of vinegar on our chips...best chippy we ever found hence 5 * review.

I’m a regular customer at Balsall common chip shop and I order from the delivery driver Greg. Wanted to say a huge Thankyou because I didn’t expect some chocolates for being a regular customer with yourselves and thought it was a very nice thing to do. Greg is always on time and polite and friendly and all the chip shop staff are all polite and friendly and provide a good service. The food is always delicious. Many Thanks Gemma :)

This is a terrible letdown overpriced the food was awful and the staff are very very rude

HAD FISH AND CHIPS TONIGHT, FIRST TIME HAS RECENTLY MOVED INTO THE AREA.. ABSOLUTELY BEST WE HAVE HAD IN YEARS.. THANK YOU FOR OPENING IN THIS RIDICULOUS HEAT!! 😎😎.. DEFINITELY WILL BE RETURNING.. 😀😀..

My local fish and chip shop, tasty food especially the haddock fish with plenty of salt and vinegar, only thing is, the price is not looking great.

Great chippy, great food but priced are on the increase

Chips were very dry like they had been sitting for a long time, not sure how they can get away with giving people such poor food, wondering how a chip shop like this is able to continue to serve such awful food!!!also very expensive £3.30 for a cone of chips and a Small mushy peas, I will be avoiding this place in future and recommend others to do the same!

Good quality, freshly cooked fish, chips a cut above average 👍

The place is total rip off and the food is hit and miss,But they have the monopoly round here and good job as another chip in balsall common would easily take 60% of there trade,nearly forgot too mention complained about lamb kebab the once which I’d bought with chips,after giving me filthy look and showing how un happy he was he decided he would change the kebab and made me pay for chips,I’ve know choice to shop there but would never give it any pluses in review

Never had to complain in 25 years of eating take-a-ways from here, always good food especially the cod and/or the chicken kebab with chips. It gets rather busy at peak times so phone in your order to avoid the queue. On this occasion we had the grandchildren around so a rather large order was phoned in. On pervious occasions, when we have phoned in, the order was packed into a brown paper bag, or two, on collection. In recent times however, I have noticed, as many of you who purchase goods here, that they have started using a rather stylish large white carrier bag. I noticed on the latest collection that not only was it sealed in the white carrier bag but individually packed into stylish cardboard cartons. As soon as I enter the car this strange smell struck our nostrils... more like a strange mixture of damp and chorine not the usual fish and chips aroma. The smell only got worse by the time we arrived home and on inspection, noticed that the smell was coming from the smaller cardboard cartons which had a pinkish dye colour on them. The larger cartons also had a distinct chemical smell about them as well. We emptied the cartons as quickly as possible and proceed to eat the food which was still the high quality that we have expected. BUT, please note. Our recycling of cardboard and paper has increased ten fold since this new introduction and the smell of chemicals certainly is an off putter, not to mention the cost of cartons versus the cost of a couple of pieces of plain paper, food for thought.... Maybe it needs a re-think on the part of the management.

A Very Good Chippy! Fresh crispy fish and good quality chips.

Not a very good chip shop. Usually their chips (and other food items) appear to be very dry. I usually travel elsewhere to find better food, as unfortunately this shop does not have any direct local competition and have a captive market. I think their products are overpriced and over cooked..... We've tried the chippy again after 7 months, still reviewed as ^ It's now the end of 2021, tried the chippy again. Still a poor 2 star effort. I really should learn to not go here as I'm always disappointed with the food, but when desperate....... I'd suggest driving a few miles to Tile Hill and using Beech Tree Fish Bar, CV4 9FE. Loads better than here and imo well worth the time and effort.

Very good takeaway. If you don't like/want too much batter on your fish, they will remove the excess before frying. Other half always chooses fried fresh chicken portion and says never disappoints.

Has too be worst villiage chippy ever well over priced bland food don’t complain as your be met with a miserable owner avoid if possible but living in the villiage that will be difficult…

My local chippy good size portions

Very nice and clean establishment

Overpriced. Cod was nice but rectangular as if it came out of a box. I was going to have haddock but oil dripped out of it when staff struggled to pick it up. Chips were horrible, dried out and tasteless.

Foods great but it is not worth the prices as it’s only fish and chips Would recommend for people as the food is tasty

Absolutely disgraceful service. I placed an order over the phone for collection. When I went to pick my food up they had given it to somebody else and they had no fish left. They were not understanding or sorry at all and made me feel like they didn't want my custom. It ruined my evening. To make it worse, this is the 2nd time they have messed up - a few months ago I rang to ask what time they closed, we turned up 30 minutes before this and they had shut and locked their doors and again were really rude and unapologetic and did not care or want my custom. They think they're the only fish bar in Balsall Common so they can do what they want and treat customers how they want as they think people will always come here. Well I certainly will never be going back and will be going instead to Meriden Fish and Chips which is only 8 minutes away. Would give 0 stars if possible. Stay away!!!

Absolutely bloody lovely! Highly recommended!

Tasty there Very Tasty. Bit of a wait but worth it.

Excellent food. Cod was the best lve had for a long time and the service was swift in these difficult times. Definitely going there again.

Overpriced 5.50 for 10 chips and undercooked chicken

Very friendly staff. Good service

Best fish and chips I've had in a long time, highly recommended !

Food was very nice but slightly overpriced for a battered sausage and chips

I drive from Kenilworth (15 minutes) for these fish n chips. They double wap them and so usually still hot when I get home. Otherwise 30 secs in microwave does the trick. Wish these people would open in Kenilworth. It might put the rubbish Kenilworth fish shops out of business.

Fantastic haddock and chips, highly recommended

Clean and smart. Excellent fish and good chips .

Not sue if we were overcharged or go the wrong change from he server but we paid a very expensive price for a very small meal. It really was the smallest portion of chips ever received from the shop. A shame because usually good food.

Nice well cooked food but new servers need to be made aware of portion sizes as makes the meal very expensive. Very disappointing

They should really change the times advertised on door and on Google rather than wasting people's time!

Excellent fish and chips, probably the best for miles! Great that you can ring ahead and place your order for collection at a specific time... Great service 👍

Fresh fish and chips. Generous portions. Good value. Would be even better if they provided free ketchup sachets.

My daughters have just come back fro balls all common chips shop with smallest portion of chips for£2.20 I have ever seen

Had cod and chips Friday 10th July, fish was wonderful, chips were fresh and really tasty and service was excellent. Great food great value, .

2 stars is being generous, charge a fortune and the food wasn't even warm. Dont waste your time

It’s really is a very good fish and chip shop I drive 18 mile round trip , it’s that good

Fair choice of normal chippy options, but not quite what it used to be. Seems to have lost the fresh cooked taste and cut portions of late.

I’m a very long-time customer so don’t like leaving a mediocre review. The chips are as nice as ever, but I feel that both the cod and haddock has tasted off recently, and has an unpleasant, smokey-ish flavour like it’s been overcooked.

From now on il read all reviews you think being in a nice area you would have a nice chippy lunch time special chicken meat and chips rammed in a tiny burger box if I wernt starving I would of given it back chicken wasn't cooked chips were a squashed up mess u live and learn

Always busy so expect a wait. but well worth it! The chips are very nicely done. just right. The fish portions are huge , I have to share a cod , it is too much for me alone ! Prices are fair and the staff are always cheerful and friendly.

The best fish and chips I've had in balsall common

The food is always great and you get decent sized portions.

Great chips, the jumbo sausages are awsome

Popped in on my own for a fish supper. The cod was lovely and flakey and decent portion of chips. Staff were nice and polite, it was very busy.

My new favourite fish and chip shop. Lovely staff and portion size just right in my opinion. Now accepting cards, Google pay, Apple pay.

The only Fish Bar I use locally. High quality produce and friendly staff 👍

Some of the best chips I have had compared to any other place in Coventry

Always good food here be it a piece of haddock, cod roe, sausage or even a kebab with chips. Get busy at peak times so expect a queue but the food is worth the wait.

Come here regularly collecting for JLR Fen End.Popped in here on Thursday for an order for 6 people and I was in and out in 5 minutes. The service was excellent.We ordered a variety of food and everyone was delighted with the food. The cod was huge and absolutely beautiful. It was the best cod I've had around these parts for ages. On a par with Cornwall in fact...but at half the price.Will be coming here again and would recommend highly.

Called in whilst staying at the Premier Hotel. The lady that served us was extremely helpful and not only put our fish & Chips in a tray she also gave me a extra forks, just in case one broke and some kitchen roll. The fish and chips where very nice and the portions where plentiful. Great Customer Service to a visitor to the area, thank you

This is our local chip shop and we visit fairly regularly and the food is normally good. We visited on 22nd December at 5:15pm and when we unwrapped our 2 fish and separate bag of chips, the fish was very poor, it was dry and obviously not fresh the batter was inedible, we believe that it is possible it had been reheated from the lunchtime service. We threw the majority of the meal away. Very disappointing.

Cool place great fish and chips, very friendly, portions are a good size.

Great food and pleasant service always

Grabbed a fish supper from here last Friday evening as we were staying locally. The fish was excellent, the batter was so light. Far superior to our local chippie. Wish we lived nearer!

I was second in the queue at 5pm on Wednesday, so everything "should" have been fresh, ordered two tinned Roe and chips, the Roe was over battered and dry and tasteless (think it had been re heated from Lunchtime?) the chips contains loads of bits of batter and again were tasteless! The one good point was that the young girl serving was very friendly and polite!! Very disappointed and expensive for what we received!

Fast service, nice chips but cod (£4.90) was small, overcooked and dry.

Portion size of chips has decreased noticeably over the last couple of weeks and the battered sausage is smaller than other chip shops. It's getting cheaper and more cost effective to get pizzas for two kids and 2 adults

Consistently excellent fish and chips. A regular Friday night staple.

Delicious fish and chips. Excellent customer service. Good value for money. Couldn’t fault it! Except trying to park!

Best Fish & Chips in & around Balsall Common ! fish is always so tasty good portions Jim & the staff here are always friendly & great service !

The chips here often come out soggy, and me and two family members have had food poisoning from this establishment before. The pies are safe and nice, as are the sausages, but stay away from the burgers!

My husband and I had a fish and chip supper last week for a change. The fish was pure white and cooked to perfection with beautiful crispy batter. We always have our fish and chips from the Balsall fish bar.

I would head down to Meriden chip shop (a lot better) If your ordering meat for four people you’d save £10 easily going to Meriden I had the chicken meat and it was very chewy and pinkish inside (had to bin it) Ordered burger and chips for my partner and got a moody comment back saying have you ordered it, confused ? Am I not ordering now at the counter? She was moody and rude Rude rude rude rude Expensive expensive expensive

Very generous portions and everything is cooked fresh. If you like to eat less they have smaller children portions which we as adults will endulge in with our child

Good selection of fish and high quality chips plus all the usual stuff like pies etc. Pleasant staff

Best fish and chips in the area by a country mile. Not cheap, but if you want quality you have to pay a little more.

Very friendly staff serving, big portion, nice food and clean. Altough the price is a bit higher than other town, but you get what you paid for.

The food was nice, but massively overpriced. A kid's meal with 4 chicken nuggets was £4.50. I thought it would come with a good toy at that price, but no. A rubbish squishy keyring priced at 50p from The Works. Very disappointed. Spend a tiny bit extra and have a pub dinner is my advice.

This is a decent fish and chip shop. Chips are good. Fish is good. Portion sizes are not massive which I see as an advantage because often when I go to the places that do large portions quite a lot gets thrown away.It was Friday night when I went in and very busy yet I didn't have to wait for long and staff were very efficient.

Chip very nice but portion size very small. Pies not good quality need to invest in puka pies. Only ever had one pie from here would not have another.

Great local fish and chip shop. Probably the best chip shop chips we've had. Fish is always good - fresh. Service is fast.

Recently moved to Balsall Common and was busy doing our new place up so visited this chip shop on numerous occasions since we moved in in November last year.My husband and I both agree there faggots chips n peas are absolutely YUMMY....and they were on offer at£2.60 per portion which was a bonus.Will be visiting this cbippy often that's for sure!

Lovely fish and chips, huge portions! They also do lovely Faggots, chips and peas! Thoroughly recommend them

Fast, efficient and friendly service with top notch haddock and chips. Easily the best fast food in the area

It's not bad but a touch expensive in my opinion

Best chippy around by far. Be prepared to que though as it's often out the door at peak times