Downey's Fish and Chip Restaurant in County Durham

The cod and chips are lovely, good size portions . I would recommend.

Stopped by today for the first time after having stroll along seaham beach. Was a little busy, but expected as it was the weekend.. Cod & chips, jumbo sausage and chips, 2 cans of coke and 2 tubs of curry for £22. So in my opinion it’s average pricing. Food was tasty, hot and fresh. Will definitely be back

Don't know what the other reviewers are even on about but the food is absolutely brilliant and exactly what you'd expect from a seaside chippy :)

Absolutely amazing and delicious as usual. Usually try to visit when up this way so been again today. Fish was delicious. Batter so crispy Been again today with my Mum. Oh my goodness, don't think there's anywhere better.

Really good value for money, food was so delicious, service was great. Would absolutely visit again.

Beautiful tasty foods as usual, always a pleasure going here. Staff polite and friendly and very helpful . The best fish and chips ever.

The staff are very friendly and the food is to die for. I would recommend it to anyone who loves fish and chips and a good coffee.

decent food, unfriendly staff, slow service

Been here today with the wife daughter and dog. We are currently reviewing fish and chip shops across the UK and WOW!!! This is the best one so far by a country mile. Me and the sidekick got cod bites and chips and the mini me got cod and chips, Sparkle our dog shared mine. we rated the cod bites and chips 10 out of 10 the daughters fish was a bit flat so she gave 10 for chips and 8 for fish but overall we rated it 9.5. Done in beef dripping mmmm it was so nice priced around the same as anywhere else roughly 30 squid for the 3 of us. We will defo be going back for more. We'll done Downeys best so far. If you haven't been yet get yourselves down and try it out tell them Les reccomended them and they may well give you a free sauce.

First time in a while but as I remember last time a few years ago they were a lot better...not sure why..

Very good dining experience . The fried fish was very juicy not greasy but really too hot!!!!! It was excellent and the fries were crispy at the same time.

Love there fish and chips, can't get better staff are very kind, wheelchair accessible

Delicious 😋 as always . All Day Meal Deal.... Haddock or Cod & chips Curry, beans or peas Bread & butter Pot of tea 🍵 = £12

These are the best ever fish and chips we have ever tasted !!! You must try it !!! You will not be disappointed. !! Batter light snd crispy , fish that melts in your mouth and chips that are so perfect !!! Yummy yummy

In my opinion this is the best fish shop in Seaham, all food is fried in beef dripping 😋

Expensive and very slow service. Asked for sauce like ketchup and mayo they only gave one ketchup. Not recommended. The fish is tasteless and small portion.

Very slow service had to wait 40 mins for food and when it arrived it’s a small portion and tasteless fish and chips. Not recommended

Food was lovely. Expensive compared to other places in immediate area

Over charged!! Charged £10 for small chips, gravy and bottle of pop. Disgusting. And not a pleasant service from the people behind the til either. Waitresses / waiter who were serving food were polite and courteous whilst passing with food though.

Great traditional fish and chip shop where you can take away or sit inside. We sat inside and enjoyed good service, amazing portions and great fish and chips. The fish was amazing, best ive had in ages. Well worth a visit.

Lovely fish and chips nice friendy staff quick service would recommend

Come here all the time, waited in line for nearly 30 minutes, staff behind the counter were busy(which i understand) but two staff members were stood at the top doing nothing and multiple staff members walked past and didn’t even look at us nevermind acknowledge us, ended up walking a minute up the road to bells fish and chips, got seen to straight away and food were much nicer

Food was good, but the service was terrible. Sat down a 1456 and they had a special on the menu that said “kids eat free when an adult meal is purchased, orders MUST be placed after 3pm”. Server came and take the order at 1503 and we asked about the special, which he said was ok. He then came back and said the manager told him that we could t have the deal because we were seated before 3pm. This was not what the menu said, so I spoke to the manager and she completely overreacted and tried to humiliate me by saying “all this over a bloody kids meal, fine I’ll take it off”. Shocking response and terrible attitude. If it’s seated after 3pm, put that on the menu and change the text so it is accurate and not misleading. Really disappointed with this place.

A late lunch, but beautifully cooked haddock. Light & tasty batter... everything was delicious!

Lovely fish bites and chips. Always my go to place when I go to Seaham.

Over priced. Dont use them, loads better chip shops around at half the price. Try Fountains in Carley Hill. AWESOME

We have some excellent fish and chip shops in lincolnshire but this place is a must lovely fresh fish and chips and delicious curry and gravy we went twice in 3 days

Usually fairly busy, especially at lunch time.

It was our second visit and last one for sure. For the first time it was nice, food was great and service was good too. But today it was terrible experience and I have no words for this!! At first we had only one drink served despite we ordered 3 all together. Once we got our food order wasn’t complete. We needed to ask for cutlery which was so annoying especially when staff didn’t care about us at all. They seemed tired because of us. Restaurant was quiet and staff were talking between each other all the time near our table rather than serving our food and drinks. Tables and menus were dirty too.

Fish & Chips were delicious, the fish was very fresh in a light crisp Batter and the chips tasted out of this world with them being fried in tradition beef dripping, the homemade tartar sauce and lemon wedge made the perfect accompaniments. It is more expensive than other fish and chip shops but boy is it worth every penny.

A lovely traditional fish and chips shop. I got cod and chips for £10.90. it was cooked to order, piping hot when I came to eat it along with tomato and tartar sauce which were 50p each. Portion size was great and it was delicious. I liked that I could put my own salt and vinegar on as well, nice touch.

The gentleman frying the food was extremely rude to myself and members of staff. The food was very good but we won't return after how rude the man was.

Definitely the best fish and chips in Seaham!! Cod tasted fresh and delicious!!

Whenever we visit relatives in Peterlee ..... we always arrange a meal at Downey's. I rate this as THE BEST fish and chip shop ....

Food is consistently good, price is in line with others, service can sometimes be a let down if you’re in a hurry. Our favourite chippy in Seaham

I've had to change my review based on my last visit. It was nowhere near as nice as the first time. 2x large cod were tastless and a bit soggy. The chips could have done with being cooked longer in the fryer. Was really disappointed.

Great fish and chips..but please get your system for ordering sorted out..here is my suggestion..as soon as customer comes in..the fryer should ask what the order is and then tell them to join the q instead of doing nothing ..leading to me being told off by server as to I should know the system..lovely product tho.

More fish in a frozen fish finger. over priced overcooked what little there was. shocking.i will never go back told girl running tables all I got was sorry. tea like dishwater. Took a photo can't find how to upload.harbour view fish shop Hartlepool 9.95 cod chips bread butter and tea 100% better cod

Chips were hard and dried out. Large cod was quite small, Peas were dried and stuck together in a big clump! Gravy you could have built houses with! Cheese patie was very nice, freshly made. Lots of things out of stock. Not what I’ve experienced from here before! £26 for poor quality food.

The palest most albino looking chips I have had and a flavourless batter. Poor.

We had the Fish n Chips sit in meal deal ...Food was great, except they didn't serve any Tartare Sauce, with the meal as described on the meal deal info card.. As we had nearly finished our meals when we noticed this, we didn't raise this missing sauce with the staff.. Attention to the meal detail would have gained a higher star rating!

Wouldn't return to the restaurant again the staff are lazy and rude sat for ages serving people who had just came in and ignoring us didn't even care when we left without ordering

Never got a meal staff attitude is disgusting sat down then serving people who came in after us when I got up to leave she just looked couldn't care less attitude won't be returning went elsewhere was just as good

Came for a quick takeaway, the man on the fryer had an appalling attitude. Saying “f**k sake just go home man” as more customers came in creating a queue. The way he spoke to other customers in front of children was appalling. Won’t be returning. The lady who served me ( Julie ) was lovely, and was a pleasure!

We visited Downey's in Seaham on a Wednesday evening and ordered a can of Coca Cola, a kids sausage and chips with beans, a massive cod and chips, and a jumbo sausage chips and batter. The portions were generous and the food was hot and fresh. The staff were friendly and helpful. The prices were reasonable, considering the quality and quantity of the food. We paid £14.50 for the can of Coca Cola, £4.50 for the kids sausage and chips with beans, £8.50 for the massive cod and chips, and £7.50 for the jumbo sausage chips and batter. The total cost was £35, which was not bad for a family of four. However, we were not impressed by the cleanliness of the place. The tables were sticky and the floor was greasy. The toilets were also dirty and smelly. We felt that the hygiene standards could be improved. We also found the place quite noisy and crowded, which made it hard to enjoy our meal. We would recommend Downey's for a quick and filling bite, but not for a relaxing or romantic dinner. Overall, we had a decent experience at Downey's, but we were not blown away by it. We give it 3 stars out of 5.

I don’t want to be writing this but I’m very disappointed with this visit, Large cod and chips, I mean I’ve been coming up for years just for this place and today well Im not very happy at all! The fish is tiny compared to what I normal get, hardly any chips, even asked the women ‘is that large’ she said ‘yes’ wow! My trips to seaham just for this chip shop will not be happening anymore! What a shame, fish is thin and tiny and £15.90 with peas and curry well I feel I’ve been ripped off! What a shame, travel 3 hours for this and never again now, seems a lot of people are saying the same thing 😩😩 EDIT THE NEXT DAY! GO TO BELLS ITS SO MUCH BETTER!!!!

Filthy restaurant with miserable unpleasant staff that also look filthy. Very Expensive fish n chips compared to Bells. Tasteless curry sauce.

Awful customer service. Will never return

My daughter has been very ill, her husband and children decided to go here for lunch to cheer her up, they decided to eat inside due to my daughter recovering. Her husband and children gave their order and my daughter asked for a small portion of a children's meal,she explained that she hadn't and wasn't eating very well due to bring I'll but she was refused, the staff asked who was in charge that day and they flatly refused, how absolutely disgusting to treat some one this way, no empathy and very bad buisness to treat people like that. We will never go for good there again, they charge the maximum they can get for little and those at the back of the counter are unfreindly. I telephoned to discuss this and was told no management in that day and the complaint would be passed on and we would be contacted to which not one of them to date hundredths do not deserve business and there is a fish and chip shop further down that charges less and much better in every way...note I do not have any connection with this business in any way.

Great portion of fish and chips quality was fantastic 👌

Fish and chips always fabulous quality we enjoy going

The best fish and chips ever. Better than Bell's, better than anywhere else.

I love the food. It's simply the best. The staff are happy and friendly.

Fantastic fish and chips. Well worth a visit.

Let's start from a place! Lovely, spacious room for lot's of people who want to enjoy the free time. Live music with a nice band. Fish was gorgeus! Very tasty, crispy, not fat and just the right amount of crumbs around. Size was massive, lovely chips with it and extra peas on a side. Everything served in a paper box easy to carry. Nice lady at the till. Very busy but manage with all the orders. Highly recomended, especialy at Xmas time when the atmosphere is magic!

Staff extremely rude!!! Did not understand about gluten intolerance!! Would not trust gluten free chips as cross contamination happened in front of my eyes. When asked if they could not use the same scoop for gluten and non gluten the staff member looked blankly at me and did not understand my concern. Crazy!!! Buyer beware

Excellent fish ,,chips average, the childrens menu very good but let down by not including pensioners,,( very stern about this) called in with my Father who is 89 and cant eat an adult portion so most was wasted , pity spent £40 for three at lunch.

Very expensive and asked for a large Cod which was £9.50! During a very long wait the Fish that were served were far larger than the one I received. Wander a bit further on and the same meal is far cheaper…. Won’t be back. As an add on to the Owners reply whether large or not, over £12 for Fish and Chips as a takeaway is outrageous even in the current climate!

ordered a sausage and chips and the chips were fresh and the sausage was crispy. although the fella behind the counter seemed like he wanted to be anywhere but where he was. vibe in the place was pretty flat so I’m glad I got a takeaway too.

Visited a few weeks ago... outstanding fish n chips. Haddock was the best I've ever tasted

Fish and chips were very tasty and staff were very welcoming

Shame about the flies in restaurant window as we were trying to enjoy our food 😢

Loverly fish and chip and a good pot of tea

Visited Downeys in Seaham on Sunday, busy place but very nicely decorated and clean. We'll staffed and friendly. Fish (Cod) and chips ordered, we're cooked there and then so took a few minutes, but well worth the short wait. The batter on the fish was lovely and crisp, not soggy like many places. The chips were large and golden. Portion sizes are generous. Prices are competitive. It's definitely worth another visit

This is the most overpriced fish and chip shop ever,We went as a family ,On the order were half and half fish and langastines,we were expecting full langastines however these were cut in small pieces with b. Mostly batter ,total rip off,also the fish pieces (3)were also a rip off at £7.90 plus extra £3,50 for chips The curry sauce was smoky,Then what can I say about the gravy,I thought they had brought us chocolate mousse as it was that think,don't waste your money eating here as it's so overrated and very expensive ,Never come here again!!!

Food and service always good . Much better than Bells in my opinion.

Wanted a sit in meal but told no table service as not enough staff. Ordered at the counter, whilst rest of party sat down. During that time one guy was frying and two ladies waiting. Queue was growing. Only one of the ladies served, other was going to the back, chatting with colleague or on her phone. The counter is not big enough for two to serve. One could have provided table service. There was only three tables occupied. The least they could do was clear the tables. They left a bin bag for customers to clear up. Food was good but for the price I expect better service.

Ordered large cod and chips. The fish was huge, perfectly cooked, moist inside and battered to perfection. So often chip shop batter is far too thick and greasy and makes me feel queasy an hour after eating. This was light, crispy and with no adverse after effects. Highly recommended and the best fish and chips I have had in a long time. I will definitely be going back again.

Two regular cod And a portion of chips..with a small carton of gravy...£20 worth the money.. lovely better than gills and bells is just a joke... downeys is simply the best chip shop 👌

Downeys Seaham Takeaway & restaurant were very busy. The customer in front of me placed her order with the fryer which a lot of chip shops do - order when you join the queue. I tried to do the same. I was then told by a waitress with a loud brash voice that was not the thing to do and that I would be asked when it was my turn. Its not what she said its the fact that she repeatedly told me I was wrong in this loud voice. People were staring so I left the shop. I am not the first reviewer to mention the staff rudeness maybe the management should take a look at that. I won't be back.

Best fish and chips by far, was well worth the drive and the money. Will be visiting again.

Too many flies even a fly came out of vinegar when put on food

Always a lovely meal here and it's a pretty little restaurant too. Staff are lovely and the toilets are very clean.

Called in for a supper and met with lovely servers, friendly and fun. Fish was cooked to order and fresh n delicious. Excellent value for money.

Beautiful fish and chips, staff are really friendly and very helpful, inside is very clean

Amazing fish and chips and fabulous service from the two young gentlemen working in there. Love my bowl of scraps too

Outstanding food every time (and we've been here a lot, despite living 200+ miles away!) Today we ate in on a very rainy Monday eve and the mood of the staff reflected the weather, sadly. No other diners but a few taking away. The weather really is affecting tourist trade in the area. Perfect food as always, especially the langoustines :)

Lovely fish & Chips. Served quickly with very friendly staff. Busy with lots of customers coming & going even on a normal Monday. Worth a try x

We were not at all impressed with this place despite the fact it has been rated as one of the 5 top fish and chip shops in 2019 and a couple of years ago too. Both the fish and chips tasted quite bland even with the addition of salt and pepper, and the portion of chips in the serving was very small too. As we had our dog with us on this occasion, we chose to sit at the outdoor tables. I was horrified to see that these tables were not cleaned between customers. They were left in a disgusting state with bits of food left lying on the table, chairs and on the floor. This place does not offer value for money. There is at least one other fish and chip shop in Seaham offering better quality food at more reasonable prices.

Five star from a great wee chippy !!

Always so good. Fresh fish and chips always perfectly cooked in clean oil.

Stunning fish and chips wouldn’t go anywhere else.

Visited last night, absolutely superb haddock and chips, freshly cooked, attentive and friendly waitress, will call again without doubt

Decent food as always. Great chippy.

First time I've been here took the whole family, daughter likes calamari, my better half likes fish and chips as do I but also langoustines, so we all ordered regular cod and chips and my daughter and I had calamari and I had langoustines , the regular cod was huge to say the least!!! Would have hate to have seen the large size we would have probably had to sit at separate tables. The calamari and langoustine came with salad.....we ate as much as we could and the boxed what we could not eat. Left the chips, though. Wonderful things, air fyers....... Oh yes, and 2 tins of dandelion and burdock.

Very disappointed today have used this Fish and Chip chop for a few years The service was slow and the batter on the fish wasn’t cooked properly and the price is really high considering it’s only a fish shop

Please note this review is for the Seaham shop only! The only reason we return is because the fish and chips are usually excellent even though you wait so long at this particular branch for some reason it's allways extremely slow service, I know it's a restaurant too but they don't even appear to be trying to manage the customers, they are extremely rude every time, appalling customer service. The last 2 times the food wasn't up to standard and they were ruder than ever so I dicided to write this review as this place should be like all the other downies but it's not, the staff spoil it with their bad attitude..They should be thankful for the custom especially since Bells have opened up the road but instead they are probably loosing custom. After using this shop consistently for years we won't be returning after the last visit

Really good quality fish and chips: I had the haddock and chips and it was excellent. The service was also prompt.

Fantastic location between the beach and harbour

We were at Downey’s about 2 months ago. We live in Stanley, so we don’t get there very often, but we always enjoy the food here.

We did take away haddock and chips, very good. Served in decent boxes with good wooden forks! Was nice to see they still use beef dripping. Friendly service and not a too long of wait. Bit expensive compared to others but does feel like good quality.

There are chip shops galore ar the seaside. Downey stands out for me and friends. Always freshly fried and delicious.

The service and food was fantastic. Best fish and chips in region (can't say the same for Sunderland Downeys). Only downside was toilets.....not good

Perhaps the best fish and chips you will ever eat

Had a spur of the moment visit to seaham today - weather was lovely and had a day off so decided to drive through. I walked along the front and came across Downey’s. Staff were busy cleaning which is always a great sight. Called in and ordered fish and chips to takeaway. The fish is cooked fresh to order which is great, so I sat for 5 mins whilst it cooked. Staff taking my order were lovely & very friendly. When my lunch was ready, I looked to walk outside and the heavens had opened, it was pouring down!! Having parked at Noses Point carpark I had a bit of a walk back to the car, which I wasn’t looking forward to in the pouring rain! One of the members of staff - male, potentially owner/manager - immediately said ‘you can’t be walking out in that, you’ll get soaked, have a seat and have your lunch in here’ It was very much appreciated! Prices are slightly higher to sit in due to tax, but he was happy for me to sit. I ate half my lunch and the rain had eased so I set off for my walk and to finish my lunch. All the staff I encountered were great. Special mention to the younger male and female - no older than 18? I know how daunting first jobs can be, but they were great - a little shy but very friendly. I’ll definitely return!

Can't deny they are nice fish and chips and I even recommend the fish bites if you're a small eater and I do take my hat off to those who work in catering in this red hot sun but there's no need to be surly abrupt and rude and argue with my partner when you charged them twice and make out refunding them was a big deal. I'm not the only one to have picked up on this. Even if you're food is nice it's off putting when the staff aren't.

Fantastic fish and chips. Will definitely be back.

Sat inside near window, was a hot day even with doors open heat was quite strong inside but no seating outside at time. Service was very good, staff were there when needed, food was hot and plentiful, fish was cooked very well and lightly battered, nice fat chips not greasy,the guy next to us had a large fish and he struggled to eat it, overall very nice shop with an indoor seating, toilets were clean but small, but there if needed. Gets quite busy in here so be prepared to grab a seat quickly.

Always amazing fish and chips. Best in the area in my opinion

I ordered cod and chips and it was amazing. Much flavour and a huge quantity for 10.50 is something that you are looking for. Customer service should be better. Next time don't be so annoyed when a customer says that the floor is wet, you should take care of it first.