Harlees Verwood in East Dorset

I have just had food from this chippy and was very disappointed. I ordered four items and one was missing. I have paid £4.75 for a pie I didn't get. The fish cost £9.60. and was lukewarm and grey. Not very appetising at all. I would certainly not come here again.

Can you do something to improve the quality of the batter, fish and chips. Undercooked batter and watery fish. Dry chips rammed into a small bag, and small portions in general. You are the only chippy in Verwood but this is really substandard for fish and chips. I can only presume the owner doesn’t work there any more and the employees really don’t care about the quality or quantity. Mistakes all the time on the order too. Please up your game.

Googled nearest fish bar as we are camping and everything we asked for they did not now do, like pies!! even tho it's on the menu online, and they do not take cash.! Went to another in Ringwood instead...fabulous glad we did

Ordered click and collect through the website. The quality of food was really poor. Overcooked chips, some of which were inedible, there was also no salt and vinegar on them despite our order form requesting this (a additional, polite request/reminder had been added in the comments section because it was missed last time we ordered, this was ignored too). Service was non existent. It was a slow night with 3 other customers sitting quietly at 6 PM. No acknowledgement or greeting from staff until I stood at the counter and spoke loudly to gain their attention. Should you dare to venture in, I would strongly recommend opening your order up and checking you have all you need before you leave. You shouldn't have to, but experience shows you need to. Overall we had given Harlees the benefit of the doubt in the past, after similar experiences a few months ago, we will not be doing the same again.

More batter than fish chips reheated and soggy. This used to be a great fish and chip shop now not worth supporting.Value for money zero.

Chips were pale and soggy, battered sausage was pale and luke warm at best. The serving staff were miserable and only intrested in chatting to themselves instead of serving customers. Given this place various chances over the years as its local, but never again now! AVOID this place!

Asked it to be ready for 19:50, arrived at 19:45 and the order was luke warm :(

Dreadful fish and chips. We decided to have a treat today and I went to Harlees in Verwood.I arrived at 12.20pm and thought how quiet it was. When I got home, less than five minutes away, I opened the food and could see the chips were wrinkled and looked as if they had been warmed up, or kept in the warmer for hours, the fish too looked and was way over cooked and very crisp and greasy. Both items were only just Luke warm. At almost £20 it was a rip off!! Never again, and I will not be recommending Harlees in Verwood to anyone!!!!

Got take out. The fish was good but small. The service was pleasant and friendly but the large portion of chips were small, cold and tasted horrible. I definitely won’t be going back

Ordered my haddock & chips at lunchtime for 6.30 pick up. Not ready, had to wait for haddock to be cooked. Chips were very disappointing, only warm and around a third had black bits and all not fresh. Haddock was excellent.

25 min wait. Busy dealing with phone orders!!! Never again!!!!

Tried to order last week. Went on the web page, very confusing. Managed to order 2 fish but could'nt order 1 chips. Gave up in the end. They obviously discourage walk-ins as well. Happy days!

Bought the other nightm regular cod and large chips. Chips were awful. Couldn't eat them, over cooked, dry and rather cardboardy! Fish was ok but would be possibly deemed as small in most other chippies. Experience not good! Won't be going back in a hurry!

Cheap prices. Food can be good but not always. Was delicious this time. Staff arnt the friendliest- arnt rude though.

Slow, I've been going there for 25 years. Staff unaware of where the queue starts. Update, they don't accept cash 👎

This place has gone down hill for a few years now, use to be really good, this place would have gone years ago if it wasn’t the only chippy around

For lunch time saver option for fish, the smallest you can now get is £7.99 which is a 45.537% increase of £5.49 which was the mini fish option now no longer a menu option. The portion size for chips seems to be reducing significantly and I can't tell any difference between the mini fish and regular one. So I'm no longer going to be going for lunch. You can see from the pictures using the coke as a scale reference the size of the chips portion. For me, this was fine at £5.45 or even £6.50 as it includes a drink but £7.99, absolutely not. Last time I went the chips were Cold but the fish was hot. So it can be hit and miss. The staff are great, always welcoming and friendly and the place is always very clean.

Always come here for fish and chips in the summer, loved their chips and chicken burgers 😋

Great service but for.the price food was poor. Chips were under cooked and sausages seemed low quality

Bought cod and chips yesterday and everything was good. Nice plump fish and chips not overdone.

Unfortunately, I only popped in for directions as I was lost. I would have had fish and chips but, I found them extremely unhelpful, and unfriendly. They were not busy, or visibly under pressure. Unless they change their attitude, I would be hard pressed to recommend them.

I can’t find a lot to say that is positive. We had 3 small portions of haddock and a normal sized cod. The fish pieces were all the same size, but the normal sized cod was more expensive. All of the fish were overcooked and dry. The chip portion was a good size, but unfortunately as well decent sized chips there were a lot of small dry chips in between. I won’t be back.

All ok I had quick service and I hadn't pre ordered.

I ordered today- 2 cod, chips & curry sauce and waited 35 minutes becuase the curry sauce wasn't mixing properly Resulting in barely warm food as it was sat around. Very frustrating but that's not my only issue with tonight. The sheer lack of basic customer service from the 2 on the front, The conversations between staff was very unprofessional and not of a nature customers should be able to hear. And the standing around chatting whist a queue of people are waiting to have thier order taken. Overall not a great experience

My partner was the first customer of the evening (Saturday night) and they already didn't have certain items available. No chicken pie (my first choice), no large cod (my partners first choice) and no kids cod (my sons first choice)! So none of our first choices were available at the start of evening service. Not a good start. We had to settle for 2 regular cods and a kids chicken nuggets. To make things worse they failed to include the kids toy with the kids meal! My son was so upset! Taste wise it was the worst fish and chips we've had for a long time. Disappointment after disappointment! Don't waste your money, it's not worth it

Chips were dry fish was small and very thin torn fillet and it was supposed to a medium size had to wait half a hour the lad cooking was on a ho slow and the young lady on the hill trued best none of the staff seemed happy. The sausages were very greasy - none of the chips were eaten terrible - Sunday evening will not come again. The chip van is so much better.

Ordered 2 x 1/2 cheeseburgers - received 2 x 1/4 burgers not good enough

After reading the mixed reviews, I had to admit to being a little dubious about using. However, it did not disappoint at all. On a tight budget, I could not run to fish, but I had jumbo battered sausage and regular chips and they were great. Just having moved to the village, I will have to see if the standards are kept up. Service was super quick and friendly from the young girl. Perhaps consider doing battered burgers please?

Excellent service and delicious food as always.

They do not sell pies. Small portions and expensive

That was one of the nicest fish & chips I've had in a very long time, I would say that the youngsters were great but slightly less noisy conversation from them would add to the atmosphere.

Used this chip shop for a long time and cannot believe how awful it is now. The regular cod is so small and the chips were inedible. Will not be using again. Can’t believe they habe had awards.

Horrible chips. Threw most of the food away.

Our first visit to Harlees. Really enjoyed our haddock and chips. Super tasty and very well cooked.

The people are really nice and helpful. However, the food has always given me a bad stomach. I don't know why? The chips always seem to be undercooked and soft overall if the chips where better and no stomach problems would visit alot more 😩

Don’t order for pick up at 5pm, the chips are awful! Dry, overcooked and some even cold! Can only guess we had lunch leftovers!

So easy to order and collect without having to queue

£4.50 🤬 Absolutely shocking portion sizes. Ordered a large chips, and the portion was a standard regular size. Completely doing over customers!!! 😡😡😡😡😡 Had to edit to also say I just noticed zero salt n vinegar!!! Avoid this outlet!! Cannot reply to the shop comment? You say you will look into it, yet I’m £4.50 out of pocket!! Also, there is no way a customer can add salt n vinegar into such a tiny bag where chips are crammed in. Surely a box would be a better option, but I guess a box would clearly show the tiny portion. God knows what your mini portion of chips is like, I’m guessing three lonely chips? Regular must be a midgets handful too.

Visiting friends here and wes so disappointed here , £11.50 for a meagre cod in over zealous greasy batter. I could actually count the chips there were so few. Asked for salt n vineger and the young girl just pointed to the other side of the room.

I think the chips were a bit dry. Seemed like they were not freshly cooked

Great fish and chips. Sadly the professionalism of the young counter staff wasn't as great (showing another member of staff how far a cleaning spray bottle can go across the front food area certainly isn't my idea of being professional!)

I'm guessing that the only reason this place hasn't gone bust is that it's the only chippy around. I needed a quick feed in an unfamiliar area, so went here thinking a small cod and chips would be quick, but hit the spot. First disappointment the price. Whilst my local chippy has had to raise their prices a bit, nearly £10 for a small cod and chips was pricy imo. Then, I waited for over 20 minutes for what should have been cooked in under 10 was nonsensical. Meanwhile other, larger fresh cooked orders placed after I'd place mine were served (at least three such orders) The food? Tiny fish portion: There's more fish in a jumbo fish finger. Undercooked, the batter was still runny in places. The chips, no better. So undercooked, they were still firm on the inside. TL:DR Don't waste your money on this dross.

Soggy food, cold when collected even though I was 10 minutes early for collection. Disappointing

Definitively improved over the years. 2023 edit. ☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️ Just returned from Australia to see this company has sold out freedom and gone full Orwellian!. They no longer accept cash. I'm gutted and DISGUSTED!! I'd give you -5☆ if I could. You should be ashamed of your greedy selves. ☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️

Great Fish 'n' Chips, best around

A very clean and clinical shop with staff working behind serving screens. The fish was a little greasy, and the chips were ok. However, all of it was hot and freshly cooked to order. Pricing was very expensive compared to the chippies from our normal demesne.

Great fish and chip shop really nice food and a good service

Some good food, let down by average customer service and dingy decor, but as I said the rood is lovely and would definitely recommend it for this alone. Get yourself down there for some lovely deliciousness!

The fish and chips are high quality and not greasy. There is a good size portion of fish in a thin crispy batter. Prices are at the high end, but that is reflected in the quality.

Fish and chips are always decent. Would eat here more often if it wasn't so expensive! Service good. Alot better now that the covid screens have been removed.

The fault is with the owners and management....... Clueless staff aimlessly at a loss what they are doing behind the service counter.... Good luck with your order and friendly customer service.....

No working card machine, wouldn't take cash and didn't mention it was possible to order online. Certainly more staff training needed

Worst fish and chips in Dorset - chips were dry, no salt or vinegar. Fish tasted like it had been sat out for ages even though I had to wait ages for the order. Do not go here.

The food was very reasonably priced and they are not skimpy on the portions. The food was fresh and was ready very quickly.

Worst chips I've had for a very long time. All bits and hardly any chips. And the 'large portion is definitely not worth it even if the chips were ok. I'm adding this paragraph following the reply from Harlees. I should also say that the chips were dry and didn't taste nice, as if it was old oil or something. My guts reacted adversely the next day too.

Always fresh and still hot when get home..

I really want to love this place, as it's the only fish and chip shop in our town! But time and time again I am disappointed... It was my son's birthday and he requested fish and chips. We pre ordered using the app - food was ready when we got there.... Great, only it was stone cold when we got home (3 min drive) so sadly my guess is it was ready long before stated. The chips were cold and RAW. Hard, soggy and just disgusting. I don't eat fish so had a burger, which was dry and had 3 pieces of brown lettuce among the slap dash job of mayo, maccies does better with their sauce aiming which says a lot. Do better - you're not cheap, you have so many awful reviews and feedback is poor. You'll be shut down before you bother to up your game.

Revised from a few years ago, when I thought it was getting better. Alas, it was not.

Quick service and food was lovely. Would definitely use again.

Excellent fish and chips freshly cooked served by friendly staff. Sat in the car park eagerly stuffing our faces I noticed a few people walk in and flash their phone screens at the staff. I can conclude one of two things. Either some of the people in Verwood are REALLY pleased with their phones and feel the need to show them off OR... they do a ring and collect service. Either way the food was great.

Food was average except for the pineapple fritter which was gross. Place is run down, staff standing around chatting like a youth club. Needs a manager and a serious upgrade. Shame there isn't a good fish and chip shop in verwood. Someone should open one. It's annoying that we now have to drive to Ferndown or West Moors. Check out the pineapple fritter in the photo attached.

Used to be good but the service is now awful. Portions have shrunk bit price has gone through the roof and often get more than one slither of fish pasted together . Fish was tastless (not convinced was actually cod). Won't be using any longer.

Oh dear. I remembered this evening why I hadn't been to Harlees in Verwood in a long time. First of all I had to wait to be served as the two young girl servers were busy talking to each other and when they eventually got round to asking me what I wanted I was told that there wasn't any haddock. It was only 7 o'clock so wasn't as if I'd arrived at the end of the evening. Despite arriving when there was no one else in front of me I waited for my food to be ready after 5 other customers had walked in, ordered and left. At one point I overheard the two young servers saying to each other "chaotic, isn't it" to the other girl. When there was just me and another customer waiting I dread to think what they would have thought if another customer had turned up. As for the food, well although the fish was ok the chips were undercooked and only luke warm and I can best describe the mushy peas as being like 3 in 1 mix. This used to be a fish and chip shop to be proud of but those days are long gone. If you don't mind being disappointed with the food and service then this is the place for you but there are far better fish and chip shops in the local area that you should visit before coming here.

Awful customer service, small portions and no care for their customers, avoid!

If I could give zero stars I would. Absolutely awful customer service, stitched me up on portion sizes and the staff literally don't care. Half of the dinner was ruined as I had to drive back to sort it out and not even an apology or an offer for a partial refund, was just told that regular chips = 2 scoops but they must be using tea spoons! I will never return and the sooner this place goes under the better. The food is overrated anyway, especially when it's lined up on the side for a good 10 mins before you're told to collect

Awful. Used them on Friday. Really expensive/really average food and stingy portions. Icing on the cake was my husband and I got food poisoning. We know it was here as it was the only thing my husband and I both ate and we went down with illness at exactly the same time. We had bought a fishcake for my son which he didn’t want so we shared it between us. I’m so glad my little boy didn’t eat it. Place needs looking at. What a shame.

Usually the portion sizes we get are fine. We order on the website for a regular chips and it comes in a separate bag. Only this time we get two regular cod and two regular chips and end up both dumped into one box with barely any chips! Combined the two portions probably only just fill one regular bag! This was an almost £30 order and it did not meet that expectation at all. I dislike the decision to change between shoving chips into a box over just filling a bag. It seems like a lazy choice that has overall left the meal disappointing.

Waited 25 mins for a fairly small and very basic order in a shop that was dead (one other customer in front of us) while the staff moved at a glacial pace in between texting on their phone behind the counter. Got home to find a mix of overcooked and uncooked items. Most of it was either rock hard or soggy. Shocking.

Ordered via computer ap. Picked up at correct time. Fish and chips cold and chips tasted stale.

Ordered half portion fish n chips, £10.50 the amount I received was so small not even a full potato!!!! Thought it was a joke! Took a picture shame I can’t post it on here, shameful

Very disappointed with today's order, my cod was dry, hard and mostly batter. Not up to the usual standard

Went into here for lunch during my work break, it took 25 minutes to have my burger and chips cooked. When I eventually got my food the burger was dry and the only flavour I had was from the onion and sauce, the buns were stale. The chips looked and felt absolutely dry and has now left an oily taste in my mouth. It wasn't all doom and gloom however because the 7 up I ordered was rather refreshing and helped get rid of the taste out of my mouth... Never thought I'd say something that is sugar free was preferable to something else but there you go... Also since eating here my stomach has been feeling uneasy...

Chips very soggy, stuck together in a bag. Fish batter soggy and very thin cod. Pea fritter made with mushy peas and undercooked batter so were flat blobs. This really is a terrible place. Loads of staff just standing around gossiping and looking at you as if you were interrupting their evening. Will be using the fish and chip shop in Ringwood from now on. Much better.

Used to give 5 stars when it was due them. Recently it has been below expectations and disappointing... Most recent order had burger squashed at the bottom of the bag, burnt mushy peas (We saw a young lad querying as he did them and a more senior member coming over and mixing them all through after he asked something.) We now know that this was because the bottom of them was burnt, they were all then disgusting as the burnt taste came through them after their mixing together. We were also missing a battered sausage and after using the fuel to get back for the missed one we got the missed one and an oh I'm sorry... The fuel to get there would have cost us more than that sausage, not best pleased. As such please be careful if you decide to order here and not get surprised if you have any similar issues.

My girlfriend came home in tears after going back to complain at the smallest portion of Chips any human in history has ever been served and charged for. £1.75 is their Tiny Chips portion. It’s so small it’s laughable. Large cod £9:55. Her complaint was rejected in-house and she was told it would be passed to head office and they would contact her within 2 to 3 days. A week later we have heard nothing, what a surprise! After reading many other scathing reviews on Google and Facebook I don’t know how this company survives and gets any customers at all. In fact, if they can make money being so appalling it has inspired me to open a fish and chip shop in Verwood next year and wipe the floor with them. Free pickled onions for everybody who mentions this review. They may have cod away with it before with others, but not this time.

Place has massively gone downhill, undercooked chips in looked like old oil and maybe unfiltered covered in bits, portions have gotten smaller & prices have increased massively.. Avoid!! Go to west moors chippy much better

Really great fish and chips, wouldn't accept cash payments but good overall, one of the most expensive fish and chip shops and the fact that its the only one in Verwood makes it less competition than convenience

The one star is for the chips. I ordered plaice and chips costing over £10 but when I got home, I saw the batter was a pale pastry colour and soggy. I cut the fish and found the batter inside wasn’t even cooked, it was all slimey. I was so hungry, I tried to scrape the uncooked batter mixture off and eat it but I’ve got stomach ache now. What a shame. That shop used to be so good - what’s happened??

Ordered 2 large cod, not cooke through , batter white thin pieces and £28.00 never again, disgusting

Small fish is quite small compared to other fish shops and the price is a little higher, but I did enjoy my meal and would eat from here again.

Whilst the fish &chips are ok the mushy peas were awful

It's really improved, really nice chips and battered sausage , definitely better .

Awful. Never again. Soggy uncooked chips,

Fleeced for the third time in a row! Got home to discover missing items, so this time I called to complain. The answer phone message said to leave a message if there were items missing and I'd receive a phone call the following day. I did so, but I'm still waiting for a call 5 days later.

Best fish and chips I have had from Harlees for a long time good new staff

Service absolutely awful, fish and chips average. They pretty much threw my order over the perspex barrier and that was from the young lady server, not one ounce of customer service from her when I asked for salt and vinegar on my £23 order (fish and chips twice, one large but that was a joke), I had to pretty much beg for salt and vinegar in the end. There might as well be a brick wall up between the servers and the customers although the huge perspex barrier does a pretty good job at segregating customers from staff, I have not experienced service like it in many a year.......it goes without saying that they will not be getting our custom again. As a (next day) follow up to the above - Maybe the young lady was just having a bad day? we all have those from time to time. Sometimes customer service can be as important as the product, an example comment could be; 'fish and chips were ok on this occasion but the staff were so friendly I'd go back again', removal of the perspex screen would most definitely improve customer/staff interaction.

Great fish & chips from Harlees in Verwood!! Taste delicious and well presented in a box!!! You can place order through their website and they are always ready for collection within the time slot you choose!! I would definitely recommend!!

All good except fish cakes which were burnt to a dark brown, we had no time to complain as time was not on our side. Such a shame chios etc very nice. Regards Jon

Back to its bad old self. Ordered through app where cheese burger costs more than if you order in shop. Ordered a large chips and received a regular at best. After a 4 minute drive home the chips were stone cold and tasted reheated. Will be use the west moors chip shop in future as far better .

Was a good chippy but not anymore, overcooked fish, small portions of chips, long waiting times and the place has gone over the top with post covid measures, perspex shielding covering the whole counter and not accepting cash as legal tender, ******g ridiculous!!

This place is an absolute disgrace , we are now in August 2022 , they still will not take cash , the covid screens are still up , it is not a comfortable place to visit , and today at 7.50pm they will NOT take orders unless you have booked it on the app..... there were people outside trying to get on the app to order, but it was not working...... people who did not have a smart phone could not order.....who ever is responsible for this should hold their heads in shame........ never ever again will I give Harlees my custom....... they are a disgrace and I hope they go bust.

Really terrible experience, there is no customer service skills whatsoever. The staff are so rude. The next issue is the food, this is not the first time I have had cold chips from here, which taste like they have been reused from lunch time. The first time I had chips from there which were cold. I phoned up and complained and they gave me my money back straight away. I went back thinking they were just having a bad night, however had the same rubbish food. How the chef is proud to serve that type of food is beyond me. I defiantly will not be returning, anyone looking for a takeaway in Verwood choose an alternative option. TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE - REUSED CHIPS - COLD FOOD - AVOID.

Staff at Verwood really helpful, especially when the order wasn't correct. Food great as always. Don't bother ordering bacon though, not a rasher, it's tiny bits, flavour indistinguishable.

Very slow service. Lots of people complaining. Don't take cash. Portion of chips very small.

The cod seemed very dry like it had been sat under heater for quite a while hardly and taste to it, shame really food is normally amazing.

Great food as always. Thank you.

Clean and good parking. Food fairly typical chippy

A lot has changed here apart from the cooking oil! Sort reviews by Newest Portion size small. Pictured is my ‘Large” Prices expensive. Ignore the old prices in the photos. £8.60 for one (not very) large chips & 2 sausage. Payment by Card only. You cannot pay with physical money. Serving time VERY SLOW. Sausage and chips took 20min The only person who got served quick was the JustEat delivery guy. Sausage very greasy. Chips dry. Both left a lingering old oil aftertaste. We had a few and binned the rest. I’ll goto the kebab shop next time. I have contacted the management directly several weeks, before writing this review. They did not have the courtesy to reply.

When are you going to return to sensible post covid trading hours Such as 9:30 or 10pm closure?

Rude staff and poor menu. Verwood neads a rival chip shop the town is big enough