Mermaid Cafe in Hastings

Near the Stade and Rock-a-Nore old town area of Hastings. Fish and chips were good but more expensive than London - £70 for 4 people for a takeaway. Service was good but the place is brightly lit and lacked atmosphere.

This is the only Fish & Chip restaurant we dine at. The food exemplary as is the customer service. Can’t rate this restaurant enough. Very good value for money and licensed so if you like an alcoholic beverage with your food this is def the place for you. We love it!

Walking past the mermaid fish and chips cafe when my 6yr old wanted to give it a try , the staff were so overly and friendly, nothing was to much trouble . The food was lovely , the portions were a decent size and was all so tasty, the chips were crispy , the fish was beautiful. The cafe was clean , and tidy . The toilets are just around the side of the cafe and was clean and well stocked . There is outside and inside seating ,and have high chairs and able to accommodate wheel chair uses as well . They have a great range on the menu.

We drove to your restaurant from Portsmouth on Wednesday! I am an artist and photographer and I have loved coming to Hastings. I first visit to this restaurant was many years ago with my father, who grew up in Hastings. I am now in my 70s and bring my wife to the Mermaid a few times every year. I know the restaurant has changed hands since I first came, but somehow, you still serve up the best fish & chips in the world - in my opinion.

What a great fish&chip shop,me and my husband had roe and chips,best roe we have had lovely and fresh,batter was l yummie very light and crispy,the chips was nice,everytbing was hot,lovely coffee as well,would recommend going there,friendly staff and cheerful,😁

Had a lovely meal at the mermaid with two children. The fish and chips was cooked perfectly and I would definitely order it again. Prices were very reasonable and it's priced as fish and chips, not separately like most chippies. The restaurant does have access issues and the toilets are outside. The service was friendly and polite but I did have to repeat my drinks order.

My brother & I went for bday dinner, Service was great, friendly. Best fish and chips I’ve had in a long time, We only wanted small fish and chips but that’s not on the menu, so they recommended children’s cod & chips, the portion was generous, fresh and the batter lovely and light….

As part of a local group we’ve used a few Old Town chippy’s for a weekday dinner meet! The last few months it’s always been the Mermaid as they are so welcoming and everything is cooked fresh to order. Portion sizes are good, a variety of meals are available which suits all from delicious sausages, fish cakes, scampi and traditional cod & chips to name a few! Pricing is on par to most locally. We have between 7 & 18 of us when we go and everyone has always enjoyed their meal… thank you Mermaid from the Tuesday night group 😊

Needs better ketchup! That and curry sauce are the two condiments essential to a good supper. Good choice of food. See menu The staff were nice although seems they were a bit bored and grumpy , served quickly and food arrived within 10 minutes.  Fish was very good. Batter crispy and light. Bottom of fish a little soggy but was ok. The sausages are really bad quality. Looked like a Richmond sausge pale and tasted horrible. Again the batter was great just couldnt eat it. It's either two small battered pale nasty ones or a large which I havnt tried. Chips were nice but they could be better. Choice of cold drinks over £2 a can. Coffee is decent. Food is a reasonable price. Small space but we were very happy sitting inside. If it was busier I think it would be uncomfortable eith the main seating area having chairs back to back so close. I realise making the best of the space. They do usualy have outside seating. In a great spot by sea front opposite family entertainment. We have been here before and it was much better so I'm not sure what's changed. Shame but I'd return for the fish and id try the larger herby sausage.

The best chip shop I have been too. Brilliant service even through just eat. Always gives plenty of what you ask for. Can’t fault them everyone should definitely visit

My wife and I went for a bite to eat, we both choose the full English breakfast. What can I say, but very disappointed, food was luke warm and undercooked. I will never visit this establishment again 🤬

Brilliant loved the food can't review staff as always get food delivered ,prompt service generous portions and always hot.

We visit hastings several times a year and always visit the mermaid for our breakfast, good fast service , generous potions and very tasty .

As the three tables were occupied, we went for the carry out option. Ordered large haddock x2 and a portion of chips to share. Fish cooked to order and perfectly fresh and crispy. Enough to share. Chips could have done with more cooking, a little pale in colour and we didn't finish them.

Over a 300 mile trip to get to Hastings for a week away into Hastings for a rest and supper before we take over the caravan and rest up for the eveningordered large cod and chips for myself and wife and was not disappointed.plate full of crispy cod and chips arrived with a much needed cuppa that set us up for the rest of the day.social distancing adhered and three tables outside thank you and we will be back again soon

Great fresh food served outside right on the beach. Very good table service with pleasant and efficient waitress

The second best fish and chip shop in the Old Town in our opinion (behind Maggies). Chips are light and fluffy on the inside, crunchy on the outsi

What more can I say that I haven't already said about The Mermaid in Hastings? Visited during the half-term break and thank goodness we arrived earlier than we normally would when visiting Hastings because the place really filled up quickly and you will know just why when you visit. Our normal order of two medium haddock, chips and mushy peas was as good as ever and the service is with a smile. The staff are well-versed in serving customers and they couldn't be friendlier and more helpful. Back to the food; the fish was firm and the flakes were delicious - love the chips as well - must remember to have them with curry sauce next time, although just as great with the traditional extra salt, vinegar and tomato sauce. As with every other ending to my reviews; we'll be back for more of the same. Thank you Mermaid staff and well done! Long may your socially distanced tables be full of happy and hungry customers.

Excellent fish and chips. We sat on the tables outside. Have to say the large portion was a standard size. It very tasty.. Children’s portion of cod and chips was very generous.

For someone who lives by the coast, perfect fish and chips is always a controversial one. Here at the Mermaid, I think they pretty much nailed it. The fish was cooked perfectly and the batter nice and crisp but not greasy at all. The chips were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Service was warm and friendly and the prices very reasonable. The speed of service was great as well (we ate in). In terms of overall hygiene, considering Covid restrictions, all was fine. I wouldn’t say immaculate - but then it was a busy weekend day - but good enough

Didn't book in advance as our trip was on the spur of the moment. There was plenty of seating area outside so we could spread out. Service was great and most importantly staff were very friendly. Portions were reasonable and the prices were not bad either. Oh and good food.

Very disappointed that during this covid crisis, social distancing at this restaurant is completely ignored. Tables are jammed together outside within inches from each other with complete strangers sitting shoulder to shoulder! Food was mediocre and chips dripping in overused oil. Made the fried food taste bitter. Won't be going back.

This is my fourth time at the Mermaid and the food was superb. We went for the medium size haddock and chips. The fish came in the lightest, non greasy batter and tasted wonderful as if caught only half an hour ago and the plate was not swamped by mounds of chips which I think is always a way of compensating for low quality fish. Not the case here at all, lovely hand cut chips accompanied by a generous helping of mushy peas - one pot here is enough for two I find, such is the generosity. The service is good too,the girls know their stuff. You can also see right into the kitchen so nothing to hide there. All washed down with good quality tea. This is a really good place to eat. You will not be disappointed.

surprisingly good fish and chips, (really good chips) good service, decent helping. Nice outside tables that catch the sunset well, and not too busy, except for the gulls hunting for their next chip! Recommended

There is something special about eating fish and chips at the seaside. Whenever we come to Hastings we only ever go to the Mermaid, its the best in town and we highly recommend it. On our last visit the Mermaid didn't let us down, the fish was amazing and the chips were unbelievable. Its a must for fish and chips in Hastings!

Great stop off for lunch , service great , no waiting around. And reasonably priced,You can eat inside or out it’s up to you . Staff wore face coverings because of Covid-19 but you could understand what was being said. Great to be out in the fresh air after being in lockdown and getting to share your fish and chips with the seagulls if you weren’t careful

Ordered off Just Eat this evening. Great service. Arrived quickly. Fab food. Will definitely be ordering from them again.

Ordered off JustEat, food came very quickly, was amazing. Best fish and chips I've had in years.....

Just had the best fish & chips in a long time..delivered quickly ..arrived nice and not and freshly cooked..Will definitely order again..

I went with my husband and 1 year old son. Unfortunately there were no high chairs available, and there were steps leading down into the inside of the restaurant. So if you use a wheelchair or have a pram, you're likely to have to sit outside. This wasnt a problem for us as the weather was lovely, but it could be on other days.The chips were good but I'd probably give the burgers a miss as it wasn't anything special. My husband seemed to enjoy the fish. Overall lovely staff, nice atmosphere and decent pricing despite average food. There's no reason why I wouldn't go again, but the only reason I would go back is if I was close by.

Can't fault the friendly service and the great fish and chips, mushy peas, and curry sauce. Had the haddock and very fresh it tasted, and beautifully moist too - great deep fat frying. Always busy but worth a wait. Glad to see they're still as good as always.

Very friendly and good service ,with a great atmosphere .the food we had was Fish chips mushy peas and a vegetarian version ,which they went out of their way to make sure was suitable . I cant wait for my next visit .This is a pub so check whats happening as they do have curry quiz nights and bands .

The fish was one of the best I’ve had in a very long time. The staff were friendly and attentive even though we were sat outside on a cold November day. We had the dog with us. Very good.

I visited on the Sunday just gone, on a family day out. We weren't able to be seated inside. However staff could seat us outside and ensured we was comfortable. Staff were friendly and welcoming. I ordered a veggie burger and chips. I must say the chips were the best I have eaten in a long time!

We have only been for breakfast, as recommended and it certainly worth a visit, all the meals are large and served very hot. A warm welcome by staff and seems to be a very popular place.

Good food fast service The haddock tasted very fresh and very tasty Parking right outside for 30 mins £1

Five of us, plus a dog, sat outside on a beautiful warm and sunny day and had fish (cod) and chips. It was a great meal. The fish was so fresh and perfectly cooked, chips were good too.

We ordered a large fish and chips to share and what arrived was two large pieces of gorgeous cod and plenty of deliciously hot and crispy chips. With wine at £3 a glass and beer£4, the whole meal came to £18 for two lunches. Fantastic value for money. The waitress was most efficient and the chef was also visible serving tables. I can’t praise this place enough and, to cap it all, we sat in glorious sunshine while we enjoyed it! Thank you.

Popped in for takeaway chips and they were absolutely PERFECT. Unfortunately I didn’t get to try the fish as we were on our way somewhere so thought we’d grab some chips. It’s on my must do list the next time I’m i Hastings!

There is simply only one word for these fish and chips ... delicious. The fish was light and the chips were really crispy with no oily residue left on the plate. Excellent service and very competitively priced. Will definitely revisit.

Wonderful fish and chips cooked to perfection thank you. Sat outside and enjoyed them taking in the view of the seaside

My wife and my 92 year old mum have been here 3 evenings out of four. We ordered haddock and chips and a small portion of cod for my mum on each occasion. The chips were crisp and perfect,,,,the fish the same,,,a light crunchy batter and perfect flaky white fish underneath. Staff friendly and efficient. The apogee of the seaside supper; anyone coming to Hastings must come here!

On a rainy morning in late July my wife, me, and my youngest son came here for breakfast. It was a good meal, the service was friendly and efficient, and the decor / surroundings were interesting as well. It was a nice, cozy refuge as it bucketed down outside, providing a nice view of the seafront on a rainy summer day.

We took the coach to Rye & Hastings with our Women's World Club and after walking around for a bit 4 of us decided we were hungry. We settled on The Mermaid because it looked pretty busy which we thought was a good sign.

With Webbe's and Maggie's both closed on a weekday mid-afternoon, we were left wondering where we might find good fish and chips. The Mermaid, next door to Webbe's, did not look promising but we were wrong. The haddock was extremely fresh and tasty, while the chips were equally delicious. The service was swift, friendly and altogether delightful.

Used this little restaurant many times over the years. This week they surpassed themselves. The cod and chips were as good as I have had and that includes all the places our northern friends say cannot be beaten. Not often that I get chips that I am happy to say perfect to.

Great service, good price, no doubt one of the best fish and chips ever tasted. Quite a small place and very popular, so you might have to wait for a table inside or outside, but well worth waiting for.

we called in for a spot of lunch today the staff were very friendly and very helpful we ordered cod and chips also scampi and chips both meals were a delight to eat I give them 10 out of 10

A visit here is well worth the long walk from St Leonards. Several people recommended this place to us so we walked until we found it. It was worth it.

A small cafe, very basic but the fish and chips were perfect!!!!, the best piece of Huss i can remember having, the chips were lovely too, good old fashioned fish and chip chips. My husband also very much enjoyed his cod, tasted fresh and of good quality.

The food here is wholesome and plentiful...good start to the day ..freshly prepared and enjoyed by all..would definitely be back..thank you...well worth the visit

visited this excellent restaurant for the 1st time this season with my son and I am pleased to confirm that the normal high standards, both of food and presentation are still here. The process as always were reasonable for the size of the portions you get and we will be back before the season ends.

Came in here while i was in Hastings for the day in February 2019.Pleasant and quick service but the food wasnt brilliant.I ordered Sausage & Chips,the chips were a bit iffy, think theyd been there some while. the sausages were reasonable though.

Breakfast with my wife nice clean good food reasonably priced great service will be back again food was well cooked and not greasy

We came on an unplanned trip to Hastings as the weather was so good and what a wonderful discovery to come across the Mermaid Cafe. We have never had a bad meal in any of the other restaurants, but out of all our visits over the past few years this has got to be the best fish and chips we have had. Perfectly cooked fish, crispy chips and generous portions - we had the medium haddock - and a good price too. The staff were very efficient and friendly. In fact they have to be commended at the speed they cleared the finished plates and cleaned the tables thoroughly once the diners had left. We shall definitely return!

Visited here with my friend, service with efficient and friendly. We both had omelette and chips which were very tasty and of a generous portion! Small but even on a rainy day lots of people in there. The fish and chips coming out looked amazing too. There is seating outside as well.

We called in recently and had cod and chips. It was exactly what you'd hope for, very fresh fish, nicely cooked (not greasy) and ample portion. Not as expensive as some, so good value for money. Service was prompt and friendly.

Wow we had the fish and chips for lunch highly recommended a must try if your in the area, the staff are so friendly the prices are very good

Prompt, efficient and friendly service and reasonable prices. Great fish, good chips and curry sauce which is a must for us. Go there every year on our annual visit and they continue to impress.

When coming to Hastings we always go to the merimad. Quality fish and chips and always good service.

Ordered a simple take-away. Firstly took much longer than what I was told it would be and secondly , got home to find left over chip crackling in with the order which was totally dissatisfying and have put me off from visiting and recommending this restaurant to anyone ever again. Such a huge disappointment after reading all of the positive reviews, clearly left by sit-in customers. Take-away customers beware because by the time you get home you'll be disturbingly surprised.

Had been down to Hastings for a day out on the 5th October the weather was very good. We had a walk along the beach a bit of sightseeing,a bit of shopping, a bit of sea food. We stopped off at the mermaid cafe and fish & chip establishment for a takeaway, portion of chips, £1.70 each, regular. Very good chips salt and vinegar lovely we sat outside and enjoyed them and dodged the seagulls a little bit.

Very good fish and chips, fish was really delicious and much better than other more expensive places in the area.

Food was eaten by all of us, fish and chips were good, £3.20 for a bottle of small lager is steep but we all enjoyed ourselves. cash only though as most places in Hastings are.

Went here for lunch with a family of 4. Sausage bacon and chips, cod and chips, nuggets and chips and drinks. This is a no thrills restaurant, the food is good portion size is just right and priced perfectly. Four of us ate for £35.00. Service is very fast and friendly. The place is small inside and was cash only. The toilet is out the front door and down a side alley. There is also a take away service. Worth a visit if you are passing by or visiting the attractions across the road.

Took the family here for breakfast. 2 big fry-ups, scrambled egg on toast, a bacon sandwich and drinks for £20! Great value. Highly recommended and my goto place for a cooked breakfast.

when your at the seaside its pretty difficult to get fish & wrong....but many restaurants serve the masses and forget about quality. But Mermaid cafe served us the freshest fish, lightly battered that wasnt oily and very crispy.

We usually eat here on our way back from Brighton or Eastbourne. The staff are very friendly and service is good. They don't try and rush you if you are chatting or a slow eater (which I am). Fish is very fresh and chips not too greasy.

We satt down at mid day and our order was taken very quickly I ordered one bottle of water for us to share and was asked how many glasses which I thought was really good. Our meals arrived in under 5 min hot, crispy and freshly cooked.

We arrived in Hastings in the middle of a downpour. Our usual place was closed so we went to the Mermaid. We had a selection of food, chips, sausages, fish, peas, fish cakes etc. The food was well cooked and reasonably priced. The staff were lovely too. We would definitely return

I came here for a sunny Saturday lunch with some friends. We unimaginatively all went for cod and chips. Absolutely lovely fish and great chips too. Reasonably priced and very good service. I will be coming back.

Called here and had Plaice,chips and mushy peas..my partner had Cod...the meals were delicious with crispy batter and served by friendly staff..will definately eat there again..very reasonable prices too

Good serving of fish and chips. Also cater for dogs. Would return. A little crowded outside on hot days but can’t be helped.

In sunny spot close to the beach. Polite, quick service. Excellent fish and very good chips. Very reasonably priced. Cash only!

Lovely fresh piece of fish, good chips, served quickly, reasonably priced. All served by very pleasant staff. Outside could do with a bit more shade on a sunny day. Glad we stopped, popular, highly recommended.

Great fish and chips. Had this picture many years from the artist who did the wall art in restaurant.

Fish was great, chips were great. The waitress was friendly. It took a little while but it was all cooked fresh.

Lovely fish and chips at the Mermaid today. Polite fast service and freshly cooked fish andchips. The plaice was delicious and a very generous portion. Plenty of other choice if you dont like fish.

Unsure why this is known on Trip Advisor as The Mernaid Cafe, but it is very good. Perfectly cooked fresh fish, we had cod and chips with buttered bread and tea. Large (English) portions and quick service. Good disabled access. Recommended.

Very impressive - great value , great service - will definitely be back . Cash only though ... on the seafront amongst others eat in or take out.

This place is never a let down! Fresh fish and always excellent service. As always will be returning back.

This was our second visit, having discovered it by chance last summer. Friendly staff, although the are very busy. Great choice of food, freshly cooked to order. Good prices, great value for money.

Used to be good but now rubbish. I paid £9,00 for fish that didn't taste fresh. Chips were good but £9 for a plate of chips! They don't take cards either.

If Maggies is closed or full, The Mermaid is just opposite The Jerwood Gallery, and does very good, non-budget breaking fish and chips. I had the plaice, which was superb, and the chips extra crispy and fluffy in the middle - perfect!

We’d intended to get lunch at a very good fish restaurant along the road, but it was closed, so instead we decided to try the Mermaid, across from the fishing huts. What a find! Instead of fish and chips we decided on the full breakfast - sausage, bacon, egg, mushrooms, beans and bonus chips, plus buttered toast and a mug of tea or coffee - all for £5.90 each.

Revisited due the great meal we had on our previous visit to Hastings, fish was just as good but a lot fewer chips and only one slice of ' economy loaf ' bread and butter. Tea was hot and strong though.

Nestled in opposite Hastings' net huts and fish shops this welcoming little cafe with indoor and outdoor seating is a gem. Excellent fish and chips served by really friendly staff make this the "go to" choice amongst the many fish and chippies in this part of town.

Popped in on a Tuesday lunchtime. It was a very sunny day so we ate outside.

Excellent and just how we remembered. Sat outside with our dogs and enjoyed the best fish and chips in Hastings. Ate there twice over our weekend visit. Friendly staff, welcoming and helpful. Will definitely be back for more as soon as we can. Cannot recommend enough.

Everything from an All day Breakfast ,Steak and kidney Pie to Fish and chips served here and they are all very well cooked but the jewel in the crown is the fish..

Crisp, non-greasy batter on fresh fish, accompanied by crispy chips, soft on the inside. One of the best fish and chips for a long time. There is no wheelchair access inside but easy access to the tables outside.

Took the grandkids and the fish and chips were amazing. Nice light skinless batter on the cod. I had plaice and it was beautifully cooked. Quick friendly service and a very popular place to eat. This was our first visit which someone had recommended. We will definately be returning

We visit Hastings once a year for a day by train and once again were so blessed with glorious weather, finishing our day before we ran to catch our train at the Mermaid Café for the most cod and chips. We have always had a brilliant supper here - a perfect end to a perfect day and we would like to thank all the staff for their excellent service, cleanliness and of course scrummy fish and chips. Thank you everyone.

On holiday , decided to go to Hastings for fish and chips. We used to use the Mermaid and was looking forward to a nice meal. We walked in and were ignored by the waitress, she just plonked down two menus and walked off!. After ordering we sat and looked around the restaurant and was disappointed in the cleanliness of the place! .The floor and skirting and pipes which run along side our table were filthy!. My wife watched the cook who had a phone in his hand the whole time he was cooking the food! Not very hygienic ! The fish was OK, portion sizes good, but chips were well overdone and tasteless! Overall disappointed . ( suggest waitress does some cleaning , instead of playing on her phone!).

We have always loved the mermaid for our fish and chips in Hastings. Lovely food every time with welcoming staff.This time we visited two days of our caravan break and both times brought along our 17 week old puppy Teddy. The staff were so friendly and welcoming towards him and even asked if I had fresh cold water for him :) The restaurant next door had been rude and turned us away to sit outside with the pup!

Hungry family, in all honesty this was not our first choice, but a few empty tables and being in that location was enough. Kids cod and chips was a very good size, the large cod and chips much bigger than I thought and great value. Fish was lovely, nice chunky fillet, chips were very nice too, proper chip ship ones. Fast and efficient service, only criticism would be more fish on the menu - like dab, skate etc... but thats nitpicking!

Great fish and chips and great value. This time it was a hot Bank Holiday Monday and we sat outside. As always the fish was fresh, the chips good and the portions were large.

After having lunch here yesterday we have all come down with terrible diarrhoea. We all had the chips and various other items. The diarrhoea is so bad that we have had to stock up on Imodium. Not good. Will not use again.

If you like your fish and chips lovely, crispy and golden; this is the place to go! Been here on many occasions and it has never disappointed! Service is quick and it's a lovely place to stop by when you're in the old town, especially on a sunny day! Have taken away once, make sure to open the takeaway box to let the heat out or your fish and chips would not be as crispy when it gets home, but that's what you expect when getting takeaway fish and chips! Portion is generous so even better!

Reasonably priced and quick service. Fish n chips - what could go wrong? Mind the seagulls on the outside seating area as I understand that they are partial to a fishcake!