Mark's Fish Shop in Waveney

We were recommend Mark’s as the place where locals go while tourists go elsewhere within Southwold. Two cod and chips - decent portion sizes and the fish was good. Chips were really nice, just not as hot as we’d have liked which is the reason it gets 4 rather than a 5. We sat in to eat which was nice to have that option unlike a lot of places that are takeaway only.

Very poor takeaway experience A large portion of chips was smaller than a regular size in most chip shops. Very few decent size chips , all bits. The sausage was ok but certainly not the best. Why have a cardboard container and 6 sheets of paper to wrap the food, total waste of money. There was more wrapping than food. Would definitely not visit again.

Paid for fish and chips £6 for small cod £3 for regular chips which they tried to palm me off with small chips, the size of two fish fingers (less than a childs portion imho) ill be going to the sole bay shops from now on despite prices are for the rich second hime owners and not friendly to locals.

Chips was dry and hard , definitely not freshly cooked , watery and tasteless cod! Will never go again ! Not worth my money!

Lovely fish and chips. Well worth a visit. Friendly staff and cooked while you wait. If your in Southwold try there anytime.

Chips were disgusting and manky funnily enough we all felt sick afterwards. Sausage and crispy’s were nice. The rest was bad. They used to be really nice from here. Definitely not anymore!

Well forget a long walk down to the sea front and a fancy slice of lemon with your fish . By far the best fish and chip shop in Southwold . Chips are the best in the area , creamy , tasty not powdery dry like alot around . Fresh fish , with a perfect batter . Scampi and sausages were perfect too . All for a much more reasonable price too than those further down the street . Service with a smile as well !! Honestly give Marks a try , you won't be disappointed .

Very nice classic fish and chips. Fish was delicious and had a lovely crispy batter. The portion size was good and staff were very friendly and welcoming. Would go back and highly recommend.

The food was ok,quite small portions. It’s served in cardboard container. Had 2 mugs of tea which was really weak and not that hot 🥵 The restaurant was really cold as far as I could tell there wasn’t any heating on. You clear away your own rubbish when you’ve finished eating. It was a bit like going to Macdonalds but more expensive, £24.50 for plaice chips and mushy peas and cod and chips. When we decided to go there it was because it was so cold and I expected it to be warm. We usually go to The Little Fish shop and will go back there next time.

Is there another covid scare that no one knows about? Ridiculous set up. Sit in facility where you order from the takeaway counter down tge lane next to the shop? Over priced with several rotten chips included. No sauce on the table charging 10p a sachet. Awful. The staff come into the main 'restaurant ' area but you cannot order there? Really crap system. Would not recommend or use again.

Just had a fabulous piece of cod (the large), from Mark’s. Excellent batter and succulent fresh flaky cod, beautifully cooked. Chips are a little bit too greasy.

Surprised at recent recent reviews, we had 2 small fish & chips between us: I have a biggish appetite, though my wife doesn't, and we found it plenty between us. Fish was perfectly cooked, hot, and fresh. Staff were friendly too. It's true that the "restaurant" is really just a seating area, but it did the job for us.

Very greasy, thin fish suspect batter, chip’s greasy but at leat better than the other place in southwold, shame southwold doesn’t have a good fish and chip shop

Fish and chips the worst we have ever had. Might as well as throwing £28 off the end of the pier! Unsuspecting tourists beware.

Great fish and chips and service, (No toilet to use on the premises? didn't think it was allowed for a restaurant?

Been coming to Marks for years. Been three times in the last couple of months. Always have friendly faces. Fish is cooked to perfection We eat plaice. Chips are lovely too , might be a few little bits of hard chips mixed in but even they are tasty . Comes in a box which stays together no leaks . Cost us £10 each. Well worth it !

Lovely service but the quality was poor. Really small portions for the price and the cod batter was thin and soggy. I wouldn’t bother again.

Sorry but the food was awful, fish was awful and over cooked batter and the Chips were undercooked and pale, soggy and quite honestly a small child’s portion, the prices are embarrassing, walk down the town to much better options

A friend of mine recommended Mark's Fish Shop, as I was visiting Southwold for the day. It's located at the Barnaby Green end and was a bit unique, as you place your order at the same counter as the takeaway orders and the dining-in part of the restaurant is solely the seating area, but there's no waiting service, so they pass your order through from the counter. That did seem to confuse a few older customers, but I assume this may have been a necessary post-Covid & cost of living measure. It just means you need to walk round from the side entrance of Mark's Fish Bar to the front, to the seated area, but it was a swift, efficient service and my cod & chips was delicious - fresh, beautifully cooked and part of the 'icing on the cake' on my visit to beautiful Southwold. There are a couple of tables in front of the fish shop too, as the seating inside is 'bench-type' fixed, connected seats, so it may not be the ideal choice for those with mobility issues. Give it a try - you won't be disappointed! Many thanks to the staff at Mark's Fish Shop - will definitely return if I visit the area again.

I'm embarrassed how bad this meal was. To think some tourists might think this is legitimate english fish and chips. £38 for 2 reg cod 1 haddock, tea and a roll. 1st bell went off when the meal was put on the restaurant counter for pick up in cardboard. The cod was so thin. I dont want massive portions but when its so thin, its just batter, and tasteless. The chips limp, soggy and very oily, but the Pièce de résistance was the roll, wrapped in clingfilm I took out a dry burger bap with the tiniest amount of margarine, everything had 1 bite and went in the bin from all 3 of us. No pride at all, I can only guess with so many tourists strolling through that they just dont care about repeat business, an absolute embarrassment. I would normally complain whilst there, but it was all so bad you just know they wouldn't care. I've honestly had better fish from iceland

Considering Southwold has a harbour and some commercial fishing boats working out of it the fish was poor. Looked like half a portion, very thin with under cooked batter. Very disappointing. I hope Mrs T’s soon rises from the ashes!

Surly service. Not a restaurant just somewhere to sit. Very average portions and pricey. Will not go back. Quality poor

Unfortunately, when I asked my sister to pick up some fish and chips on her way through Southwold, I never expressed how much I detested this place and how I had vowed never to waste my money here again. So when the five of us...

Lovely fish and chips. Dogs welcome in restaurant, Cod beautifully cooked, chips excellent. Good selection of drinks.

Expectations high-ish from reviews. But. Cod and batter both watery. Batter so thin and soggy not worth calling fried. Cod tasteless. Only had cod as had no large haddock. Daughters sausage was tiny and hard one the outside- teen review: average. Sadly for a small...

Not the greatest, weird set up order at side then go back to be seated. food was average , cheap and cheerful if that's your thing, felt like it needed bringing into the 2000s

I have been enjoying Marks Fish and Chips since I was a child and am now coming here with my own family. Tonight we enjoyed their plaice- which was exceptional. Crispy batter and succulent delicious fresh fish. This is the best “no frills” local fish...

You can no longer get sit-down food on plates and the portions are now tiny served in one thin cardboard box. Table dirty. Everything's frozen, overcooked and tastes no better than the cardboard it's served in. Tea cold and in plastic cup. Already with sugar...

Very disappointing- sausage in batter was cremated. Couldn’t hardly bite it. Hair in one portion of chips. And very lumpy curry sauce. Won’t be going again

We visited twice for takeaway during our week's holiday. The chicken pie and chips got the approval from both my OH and my Dad - both are hard to please and so it must have been good!! Between the 6 of us, we also had...

Best tasting chips I’ve ever eaten. Excellent service and quick. Will definitely come back whilst we’re staying here.

These were the worst fish and chips of my life. I have been going to Southwold for 50+ years and although Marks has ALWAYS been there it has never been as good as the Nelson, Bell Harbour etc but it's always been 'OK'. This time...

Thank you from all the tenants at Pitches View Great service 21 portions of fish and chips ready on time Lovely fish Plenty of chips Thanks again

Ate in the restaurant just now. Excellent, freshly cooked fish and chips. Outstanding childrens menu, with generous portions. Highly recommended!

We bought fish, white bait, goujons, sausages, chips and drinks to take away for 8 (inc 2 chiidren) people cost was just over £60. The fish and batter were nice - some of the negative comments might be personal taste or a negative campaign -...

Had cod and chips here tonight but the taste was not good at all. Batter was soggy and water thin. Really disappointing and wouldn't recommend at all. Worst fish and chips I've had in a while.

Popped in a couple of times whilst on a recent holiday. Staff were friendly and welcoming. Portion sizes were decent, Ordered a battered chicken breast, and wasn't expecting a whole half of chicken, along with a fairly decent portion of chips. Would highly recommend for...

Really disappointed. Ordered a large cod and regular chips to take away. The batter was soggy and wafer thin…pealed off with the paper when unwrapped. The fish was also soggy and a small to medium sized at best, not the large I’d ordered. Chips ok....

Is this the worst? Where to start? Fish, cod, was thin and very dry, batter was chewy, and chips were limp and squashy. Antithesis of what the famour Bristich Fish & Chips whould be. Really can't add anything, just bad.

Had a take away which was average definitely wouldn’t return. Chips were just average, curry sauce was bland and tasteless.

Lovely friendly staff, no problem having dog with us to eat in. Efficient service and yummy food. Nice casual environment and good price too. Would recommend.

The best fish and chips I've ever had; super-fresh cod and plaice and great chips - and lovely people working there. Thank you Mark's!

This is a traditional fish and chip shop and we ate in the sitting down area. The fish (cod and rock eel) was excellent and we had masses of tasty chips. All washed down with a bottle of Adnams beer and a Cider. An enjoyable...

By far the best fish n chips I've had in a very long time. The fish was so super fresh and wonderfully cooked. The best place in Southwold!

Haddock okay but batter not fully crisp. Chips pale and limp - inexcusable really. Curry sauce not the best. Sausage in batter - batter fine but sausage fairly unpleasant. Visited half an hour before closing time on a Tuesday evening. Can only describe the food...

Thought this might be s hidden gem from the outside, but no it’s not, it’s an old school chippy (which I like) but served up greasy soggy chips £2 takeaway, (which I don’t like) disappointed in the quality, no crunch just limp. Visited lunchtime 12.30,...

Had fresh cooked chips. When we told the lady that we are vegetarians she notified the fryer and our was done freshly. Very good, friendly service. Nice lunch, had a chip butty.

As a vegetarian, I find it increasingly difficult to find a fish and chip shop on the East Coast that DOESN'T fry their chips in beef dripping! We'd visited two other fish and chip shops in Southwold before this one, and even then we had...

These are the best fish and chips in the town. Fresh, big fish, good chips. They have a choice of fish, we had cod and skate.

Very disappointing visit today. Portions were ridiculously small and overpriced. Won't be visiting again

Fantastic cod and chips-called 10 minutes before pick up-ready! Perfect batter. Lovely chips, delicious cod. Great staff-thank you!

We have been to Mark's for fish and chips on a number of occasions during this lockdown for take away fish & chips and they have always been first class.

Visited on last day of holiday to have a quick and easy dinner, walked in and ordered. The phone was going constantly with phone orders and I waited approx 30mins. Food was poor quality greasy fish and the batter just fell off. Daughter had scampi which were cheapo and not very nice.Would not recommend

I am relatively local to this chip shop and have not been in before as I avoid southwold as its busiest. I fancied a spot of tea out this evening with my daughter and family and decided to stop here as I had heard from a friend at how disheartened the staff had become due to the sudden influx of poor reviews and thought I would support local. Let me tell you, I had a truly fantastic experience here. The staff were absolutely lovely and were all taking the relevant precautions needed in the current covid situation and still remained cheerful throughout. I mentioned that one of my family members was a vegetarian, this was no issue! They had a separate pan to fry the chips and burger in. I didn't expect them to be able to offer anything as it's a traditional chip shop but they went above and beyond to help us. Our food was served promptly after a very short wait outside and was not "thrown" at us but of course social distancing was maintained which is more than I can say for some of the visitors to southwold! We enjoyed our food at home so we had a short car journey, the food was still piping hot when we arrived home.I felt I had to write a review in response to some of the, what I feel, are very unfair opinions shared on here. Our food was delicious, fresh, hot and perfectly cooked, in my opinion. I would not force my opinion on others but I would ask you to support local and draw your own conclusions. Food is always going to be one of those things that not everyone is going to agree on. Its about time we also praised the good as easily as people seem to target the bad. Thank you to Mark's fish and chips, you are doing a great job, we will be back!

How can chips be so greasy and so white yet hack no flavour. Sausages (some what battered) where green and sticky £5 for this small meal.outrages, how can a chippy plummet like this. Curry sauce “is actually alright” but still only a 4/10. Sausage tastes more like beef than pork as well kinda weird.Overall just go to the other chippys down the road

We had fish and chips last night and they where fantastic!! Fish was so fresh it just melted and the chips where perfect for chippy chips!! Good work guys we enjoyed our tea 😊

Really dreadful fish & chips, hard to believe it’s possible to make them this badly. Delightful, helpful people in the shop and very safe in these difficult times but completely inedible, rubbery, elderly fish with an unpleasant taste and weird white and tasteless chips.Part of the problem is that southwold is so busy at the moment it’s really difficult to find anywhere to eat, perhaps they are simply trying to do too much to accommodate people.

We were not impressed with this fish and chip shop. The batter was very soggy and the chips were nothing special. Very disappointed........

We have regularly used this fish and chip shop for many years On our regular trips to Southwold either eating in or takeaway and have recommended it to other people as a good fish and chip shop in the town - WHAT HAS HAPPENED- since lockdown we have visited Southwold nearly every weekend to support small traders and have been to this fish shop - it hurts to say but they are now disgusting and unediable - insipid, soggy, sludgy, no flavour - and the service outside is poor - your name is called- and your order is “chucked on the table” and the waistress walks away- in the rain today we visited sole Bay at the harbour albeit more expensive but at least they were tasty and wanting you to go back for more - In the sunshine what are a lovely spot - sorry Marks - you have lost a local customer of over 10 years or more!

I had the unfortunate experience of having fish and chips here on Thursday. The fish and chips were given to us double wrapped, we found out a little later to disguise the fact our chips were white sloppy and greasy. We had so looked forward to our meal only to be given an inedible meal.

We arrrived in Southwold for a break and wanted a takeaway for our first night to just relax. We drove into the centre and noticed a couple of fish and chip shops - Mark's Fish Shop had the shortest queue (lots of queues due to Covid restrictions) so we decided to go there. What a mistake. Having queued for quite a while and then waited outside for our order, we drove quickly home. We opened up the box to find tiny portions of fish which were covered in a very greasy, nasty tasting batter. There were hardly any chips, and those we did have were as white as snow. Not wanting to be judgemental on their appearance, we ate them but they tasted worse than they looked. Limp, soggy and an oily flavour. I can honestly say these were the worse fish and chips we had ever had. There is plenty of choice in Southwold - try the harbour for the best.

On hokiday an tried fish n chips again today for the second time in the hope it would have improved after last year's visit. It hasn't. Chips are pale and oily. Fish tasteless and batter is awful. Such a shame

Reasonable fish and chips take away for family but both fish and the chips were very pale and not very tasty. Ok but with other chippies in the locality they need to up their game to compete.

Friday night fish and chips... we really wish we hadn't bothered. Chips were not great and portions were very small but the trump card was the novel idea of fish without batter!!!? If I'd have asked for 'open' rather than 'wrapped' I would have noticed the stunt they pulled on us and asked for a refund. Only discovered when I got home. Never seen anything like this before. If you are going to give people fish without batter - do have the decency to tell them.

Disappointing, chips undercooked, fish had thick undercooked batter. Staff not wearing masks and nor were the customers, I find this very concerning in the current situation. Will not return, we are local customers so this is a shame.

We met up with friends on Thursday night and went for a walk around Southwold deciding to get Fish & chips at Marks. What a mistake that was , pale limp chips and fish in pale soggy batter, overpriced and poor quality. we are local and would not return here so whilst they might be able to trade on visitors or a mistakenly held reputation for good fish and chips, I would suggest that the trade from locals will decline rapidly and tourists will not make repeat visits unless they like poor quality.Southwold is a costal town so somewhere like this really ought to be able to get Fish & Chips right.Next time we are in town we will be going to the chippy in the market place, no idea what it is called and when we walked past on Thursday night they had a very long queue - now we know why!!

We met up with some friends on Thursday night for a walk around Southwold and decided to get some fish & chips. Frankly we all wished we had not bothered. Maybe they have forgotten how to cook during lockdown, but the chips were limp, pale and tasteless and the fish was in soggy batter. Very dissappointing. We are local and would not visit here again and based on last nights visit I cannot imagine Marks will be getting much repeat local business. Maybe they can trade on the tourists but even they will only visit once based on our experience unless they enjoy poorly cooked fish & chips (maybe they expect that down south!) Southwold is a coastal town so ought to be able to provide cracking fish & chips.The next time we are around and decide on Fish & Chips we will go to the market Place where to be honest there was a much longer queue than there was at Marks. (Maybe they all knew what we found out last night!) To be honest we wish we had waited there or walked back rather than waste our money at Marks on overpriced poorly cooked food.Maybe they will get better but we won't know as we will not be going back here and would advise others to avoid. In the current climate times are hard for all of us but particularly catering businesses so we will be going to places where quality is good and our custom valued, not where we feel taken for a ride.

Very disappointing. I have had better from here before. The chips were soggy with oil and undercooked. The sausage was not hot in the middle. Will not be going back.

We had take away fish and chips on Monday night. Unfortunately not the best. The chips were rather an pale and limp looking. The batter on the fish was thin and undercooked. It was all rather greasy. We also ordered a burger for my son, well that was a thin burger just battered. One greasy moth full for a boy of 22. What a shame.

I bought the family their first fish and chip supper for over 10 weeks from Marks. We were looking forward to our meal but unfortunately it was a disappointment. The meal was extremely greasy and the fish batter was undercooked. What a shame.

So nice to have the locals chippy back. My family and I throughly enjoyed it! Safe social distancing in place. Support the locals chippy everyone.

On a busy March weekend the restaurant was in full flow. We were fortunate to wait just 2 minutes to find 14 seats for our family.I went for Battered Burger and chips and the wife went for Cod and Chips.A little more expensive than i imagined but buying fresh food in a nice place it was worth it. My wife was very pleased with her food and so was I. I was surprised to receive 2 burgers and not one. This meal filled us both up.The only complaint was a customer not being happy we had children with us but I guess he's never had them himself or he was having a bad day.Very friendly employees.Toilets available as well.

Absolutely perfectly cooked large cod in a very light non-greasy batter served with expertly cooked crispy chips! Thank you!

Been going there snce 1967. Always good and fresh fish. They will take orders over the phone. Generous portions and friendly staff.

Unfortunately I am leaving this review now having learnt that the food here is fried in dripping! Basically I am a pescatarian who is not a meat eater...all well and good but isn't it a rather important fact to make your customers aware of??!Clearly the owners don't think signage to confirm this rather important detail is important!!! Before I get a grumpy owner's response...there were absolutely no signs when I visited as I would, in no way, have eaten here!!! I am disgusted!!

Often busy , but always worth the wait , freindly staff great tasting food , a little walk from the sea front but the best chippy in town

Lovely light crispy batter on the haddock lovely fried chips all cooked traditionally in beef fat. Does life get any better. Small restaurant so get there early.

Excellent chips and tasty fish. Note; the fish is fried in dripping which is to my taste, but others might prefer it fried in oil.

Drove into Southwold looking for someone to eat, this was the first place we came across, there was a parking spot outside so took a chance,Nice fresh tasting chips and a good size portion, battered sausage fine and the saveloy kept warm and soft in a bowl of water just as they should be to stop them drying and going crispy, didn't eat in but looked fine,Friendly staff and good value, kept hot until we drove back to the beach.Would go again without hesitation.

Lovely light batter and fresh haddock cooked to order. Yummy mushy peas and proper chips. Always a queue at teatime/early eve for takeaway but friendly and efficient staff. Short walk past the church to one of the benches on the promenade to enjoy the sea view whilst eating.

Lovely, friendly staff who provide great service. Good portions. Good value. The fish is outstanding, very tasty, and with a lovely light, crisp batter (try the cod). Seriously good, and the best in town by a long shot. Chips are real, cut (and untreated) on the premises, (unlike those used by local competitors). OK, sometimes my personal taste is for a slightly more crispy/browned chip, but (especially using new potatoes and cooking in very clean cooking oil/fat) these are still good, and they are cooked through in any case! We visit every week, and the standard never drops! Well done, and thank you!

£28 for two children and two adults portions of cod and chips with a tiny pot of mushy peas. I would have sucked it up if the portion sizes were half decent - but they were tiny. No bigger than a large fish finger! Chips were average. Won’t be returning.

Surprisingly small portions of fish. Clearly just a half portion. Batter was also unfortunately soggy. However, enjoyed the chips.

We always like to try somewhere new when we come and stay, but I can safely say we would not come back here. The chips where just a solid lump and looked like they where just shown the fryer,

3 of us went to Marks today and were verydissapointed.We were served tiny pieces of fish when the people that came in after pieces were a lot bigger.The mushy peas were very watery.Expensive for what we got.

Always a lovely traditional Fish and chips here. I have been using it while on holiday for years and the stafff are really welcoming and the fish is freshly cooked and always tasty.

It's nice to sit down in a chippy and have fish n chips peas bread and butter and a nice cup of tea,something that's disappearing from our High Streets.

We have had fish and chips from Mark's on several previous visits to Southwold and always been very happy. This visit was a little dissapointing. The fish didn't have a very nice flavour to it, and wasn't really enjoyed by any of us. Hopefully this was a one off :(

As always never a let down top quality fish and chips, been coming here over the years and yet to dine in, think we will be doing this next year. Always busy but always friendly and polite. Good value for your money, can’t wait to return next year

The service was good, as was the food. Only one gripe! The bread and butter was not as on menu. The ( butter) was margarine. Which I can’t eat, and looked like butter, my partner described it as awful.

Great fish and chips exactly how they should be. The staff are friendly. The food was hot and served promptly. This is definitely the best chip shop in Southwold by a long chalk.

Stopped here for lunch, had great service, lovely meal, good price.. Very Happy 😃 We would recommend this little place.

visited here on the spur of moment.

My wife and I visit Southwold probably four to five times a year, usually in high season, and take the children to the beach.

Food took ages, only supplied one type of beer however it was lovely , well where can i start with these chips they were soggy, mushy and maybe the worse chips ive ever had behind kfc 's service was alright and the fish wasn't cooked just enough with a high populated area and big demand you would at least expect the chips to be nice.

Lovely fish & chips with a cafe bit but never used that bit as yet. Its always busy so we telephone ahead our order.

Popped in on a busy sunday for a quick and easy lunch.

Ordered cod & chips £7 from the takeaway, food was hot but the smallest portion I have ever seen... the cod was tiny and could count the chips It was my second visit here but sadly not impressed...

Fish was really fresh and done nicely. Chips was a little less crisp than what I would prefer. Portion was fairly big. £9 for a fish and chips. Service was friendly.

Popped to marks fish shop for. My supper and ate in the cafe