Shoal in Winchester

What a fantastic place! We both agreed some of the best fish & chips we have had anywhere! The fish was white & flavoursome, batter crispy, mushy peas perfect! The gelato was a lovely palette cleanser after the meal. The staff were attentive great to see chefs in the kitchen area, lovely buzz about the place! We will be back.

The quality of the fish could not be faulted. A regular sized portion was more than enough. The chips were a good helping with extra if wanted. Negatives... the top end of the price scale. Everything else..veg,sauce, beans etc is charged for. Worth a treat on a visit to the area.

We went for a meal here with our family whom we were visiting. They recommended both the food and the service and each exceeded our expectations. The fish was fresh and tasty, the chips were just the right crispness, the ice cream is really fruity and we think the the pork and haggis scotch egg is a real star turn. Our granddaughter was equally please with the veggie fish. The real star of the show is the staff. Amber and the rest of the team were all really friendly and absolutely professional.

We vusited today with our autistic daughter. We had to wait for a table but went to the nearby park. The highlight of this place is the staff, they were so lovely and attentive. When my daughter went into meltdown our server dis not bat an eye and was so kind. The kids packs are fabulous and helped keep our daughter entertained. The gluten free options were superb and having extra chips pleased everyone. The lunchtime deal was great. If I was being picky I would request they serve savaloys, just from my eldest child! We will be back as it was great value for monwy and we all left very satisfied.

We were both really looking forward to trying Shoal as it looked good from the outside and the menu appealing. Just very disappointing all round, particularly the food which was pretty awful. Click and collect specified a time, but was about 20 mins over. Staff polite enough and apologised. Piece of plastic film in the pie liquor, missing spicy tomato sauce from the fried halloumi. Mushy peas tasted eggy, almost off, just wrong. Tartare sauce had no flavour, large hake was small, particularly for £12. Bread rolls small and sweet, almost brioche like, just didn’t work for a chip butty! - zero beer ordered (brew dog) wasn’t stocked so replaced with a cheap alternative. Alcohol free beer ordered wasn’t in stock, so replaced with poor alternative. Staff efficient and friendly enough but would not go back ever based on the poor quality food at the price. Avoid.

Excellent lunch and service. It was extremely busy and there was a delay on our order which was rectified and dealt with in a very professional manner by Amber who kept us up to date and apologised for the delay. Thank you we know you were short staffed and you all coped very well.

Fantastic food and fantastic family-friendly service from Amber and the team. Great evening in a lovely and busy setting!

Lovely my traditional fish and chips done well - great options for veggies and vegans with unlimited chips as a massive bonus

The food was amazing and the service was quick. Would highly recommend the Haddock as well as all other fish varieties. Good for a quick meal with family and friends

Great for large groups. Been multiple times. Amazing fish and chips and the pie is also a good choice! Great service, friendly and accommodating.

Really tasty fish and chips plus unlimited chips which is nice. This spot is really good for a casual night out and will leave you with a full belly

I had the fish cakes and they were delicious! The beer was fairly priced and the staff very attentive. Will definitely be coming back for more!

How brilliant to find a restaurant catering so well for customers with a gluten intolerance. Our waiter, David, couldn’t have been more helpful and cheerful. We shall definitely return.

I went last Friday with my partner to Shoal. This is the second time we have lunch here. Their fish and chips is one of the best ones we have ever had. The service is very good and all the staff very dedicated to provide a good experience at the restaurant. Although it was Friday on half term, and it was quite busy, the lady at the front desk managed the queue very well, I think her name was Amber. She was very friendly and professional. David, our waiter, was also checking that everything was ok and offered a personalised service. 100% recommended!

Arrived at 1220, got seated about 1pm. Very busy - lots of people turned away. Staff were very friendly and gave really good quality service. We ordered one pie and chips, two fish and chips, one sausage and chips, 2 bread rolls. The rolls came out about 10mins ahead of the main course, so became a starter. Ice enough, although the butter was too cold to spread. Then one meal came out, followed about 5mins later by the others. Portions were VERY SMALL, there was no difference in the size of the fish off the kids menu to fish ordered off the adult menu. You needed to ask for extra chips as soon as the meal arrived. Pie was very nice. Fish was cooked just right, but had NO TASTE. The chips were the same, well cooked, but no taste to them whatsoever. We kept adding sauce, salt, vinegar - we tried everything to get some taste from them, but to no avail. We finished with gelato which was lovely. Really odd that for a fish & chip restaurant that their fish & chips are so poor. You could get better from any local chippy. Some other tables did complain, we didn’t. The young staff were excellent, really well organised amongst themselves, quick and smiley, it’s just a shame they don’t get to serve better food!

A packed restaurant is usually a good sign and indeed that is largely my experience of Shoal. I visited at lunchtime and was seated immediately and offered my choice of still or spring water. I selected the lunchtime special and chose cod. There was about...

Just great fish & chips and a decent bread cake not a limp tea cake.Ice cream looked good but didn't try.Haddock was best I've tasted in a long time ! .So all in all well done Shoal.Enjoy !.No soggy batter just couldn't fault it.

Amazing food and amazing kind service. Dimi was so friendly to not only me but everyone who walked in, despite the Friday fish and chip rush!

The service was very kind and friendly with all of us. The quality of the food is magnificent, especially the fish. The homemade ice cream are so rich in flavour and so tasty. We will be back soon. Thanks for everything

We have eaten here twice now, both times faultless. The first in Summer 2023 and two of our group had a pie, don't be put off by the 15 minute wait it's really worth it ! The second was January 2024 and we all went...

Heard about thus the other week, first visit. Best fish and chips in town by far! Excellent service. Thanks to Damien and team we will be back! Well done to all. Mark and hilary

Best Fish and Chips Lovely restaurant and very friendly staff. Food was so tasty, fresh, and cooked to order. It's probably the best fish and chips I ever had. Can't wait to come back again soon and try your pies.

Lovely gluten free fish and chips and fiance said rotisserie chicken was delicious. Friendly knowledgeable staff with regards to the gluten free

Fabulous Fish and Chips washed down with a lovely IPA. Great service as well. We look forward to returning.

4 friends, 4 different menu choices. Everyone happy. Only managed 1 addition helping of fries - but they were sooo good. Really good chips. Can recommend 1/2 chicken, scampi, fish pie & haddock. Children’s portion very generous. Could only manage a scoop of ice cream...

Great service in attractive surroundings. Tasty fish and chips too! Went for an early evening meal and had a really good experience.

Warm welcome from front of house and delicious scampi for my partner and gluten free cod and chips for me. Thank you for providing so many gluten free options. Really recommend this good value restaurant and its high quality food.

Although it was almost closing time, they accommodated 7 of us for which we were really grateful. We had a fantastic meal served by very friendly staff. We will certainly return on our next visit to Winchester. Thank you. 😊

Plenty of space for an early evening meal without booking. Free sparkling water. The best hake and chips I have had for years. Batter is light and crisp and bottomless chips are crisp and grease free. A melt in my mouth e

Came here as a group of four on a busy Saturday evening without a reservation. We were seated within five minutes. We all fish and chips, large portion of cod. It was really excellent. Probably the freshest fish I have ever tasted in a fish...

Dropped in off the cuff, had heard the foot was good but didnt expect it to be this good. Lovely food great service. Amber S was a super star. We will be back.

A simple but absolutely delicious lunch in a clean, convivial restaurant with great service. It was a tricky choice but we both had delicious home made pies (and they were definitely home made), with generous fillings and melt in the mouth pastry. The chips were...

Ha great quality food but a bit expensive but worth it. You can also see the title of the review behind the bar counter. 😃👍

After a good ol' Zumba session, my friend and I were on the hunt for a tasty meal and boy did Shoal supply this demand. Not only was our Cod and Scampi tasty, non greasy and a steal for the price the service was outstanding....

My friend and I went to Shoal for lunch on Friday 17th November. It was my first visit and I was not disappointed! They were extremely busy but found us somewhere to relax while we waited for a table and we were happy to do...

Amazing place and the food was great! One of our new favourite restaurants in Winchester. Strongly recommend for a day out with the family.

Here I received a warm welcome as a single man who was tired and in need of a treat. Tea is unlimited and free. This is a fish and chips restaurant with a modern decor. Plenty of space but also quite places to have an...

Great haddock and chips, service perfect and lovely atmosphere. Will definitely be back and recommend to friends.

We found Shoal on our first day in Winchester and treated ourselves to a fish supper. The whole experience was outstanding! The food, the service, the staff the ambiance and the price. Worth every penny and we would highly recommend this place and will be...

Incredible food and service within a lovely setting. Can’t recommend enough! Fish was super fresh. Will definitely be coming back.

Fantastic food tried the hake and scampi and ordered curry sauce and bread and butter. Batter was light and fluffy, fish was fresh. Great service very friendly staff and warm welcome. Beautiful relaxing ambience.

Excellent food and service. Get there early as this place is very popular. We had the hake regular which was a good sized portion. The fish, the batter and chips were amazing! Mushy peas as a side completed the meal. Definitely recommend.

Being new to Winchester, I did not have a clue of the better places to find a meal. After walking along the High Street and discounting the pubs and other restaurants, I decided that this one would do. Instead of the usual choice of Cod,...

Wow, This place is just brilliant I went back the day after. The staff are incredible, the venue is warm and inviting, but the food is simply amazing. Every bite, every flake of fish, literally is the best chippy I've been to. I was told...

My wife and I visited this wonderful venue last Saturday 29/10/23 lunchtime on the spur of the moment and were warmly welcomed at the door. Although busy a table was found immediately. Good food was served very quickly, fresh and hot. Table staff were all...

Went for the gluten free fish & chips . The fish was supposed to be large £12 with chips and peas £17 takeaway ! . The batter was very poor chips were not cooked enough . Very poor for a lot of money . The...

Excellent atmosphere, excellent food, and great service from Amber C. After wanting to visit for a while, we were not disappointed.

Great food, great staff, and pleasant sit-down service for couples, families, and singles. Hadn't initially planned on going in but the queue at the door before it'd even opened for the evening was a good sign!

Always great food, whether eat-in or take out. Varied menu with wide range of GF options, including vegan GF 'fish' & chips, and unlimited chips with several meal choices. Happy to allow me to pick several sides and create my own eat-in meal - bubble...

Whoever said they don’t do gravy down south clearly hasn’t heard of this place! After a long dreary coach trip from East Lancashire we stopped off in Winchester en route to the Vitality Stadium. A wander around the farmers market and its various cuisines was...

Ordered take away but they had overcommitted and the order was more than 20 minutes late. Had not even started preparing it when I arrived to collect. Walks in got theirs faster !

What a wonderful experience. Great selection of options to accompany the best fish ever. Particularly liked the little gem Caesar salad side. Portions are generous but it would have been rude not to have fitted in one of your fabulous ice creams. Lovely team and...

I came in for dinner at shoal. I wanted to write this review about the service I received when I came in. One of the workers Amber she was amazing. She explained everything on the menu and asked if any of us had an allergies....

My boyfriend and I visited Shoal last Friday and had a great time together! The food was amazing especially the unlimited chips which were so nice! It was great service we sat at the bar and the chefs were really chatty, thanks so much to...

Having been in the area for work for a few days having eaten Italian, Indian etc I wanted some 'normal food' so settled on chips. Quick look through Google maps and checked out Shoal and decided given it was a damp day I would prefer...

Can honestly say that this is the best quality fish and chips we have ever had. Never greasy and beautifully delicious fish every time. Chips are perfection and come with an endless promise - so if you need more, you just ask and another steaming...

We had another sensational night at Shoal, with some dear friends visiting from Switzerland. The food was totally brilliant as usual, the freshest of fish, beautifully cooked, with wonderful chips and the legendary mushy peas. Teenage boy very much enjoyed the unlimited chips and sparkling...

Probably the best fish and chips in Winchester ! Maybe in GB !!!! Fantastique moment et super accueil ! Merci ! 🇨🇭🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Wonderful gluten free fish and chips in Shoal today. Amber was brilliant as our waitress, just the right amount of attention and care and a bright and bubbly personality, a real credit to the restaurant. Thank you, and a huge thanks for reliably having gluten...

Spectacular grub at what can only be described as the best Fish & Chips in this neck of the woods. I’d like to give an extra big hand to our server Amber who looked after us from start to finish with great style. Lunch time...

Excellent food and service, home made Tartare was sublime, surroundings and background music spot on.....great work keep it up team...🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Excellent quality and really tasty food, reasonable prices and brilliant staff. Amber is absolutely outstanding. Would come again and again if we could. It’s a 6 stars from me.

Visited Shoal to eat in for the first time, having only had takeaways before. They were busy with people waiting, food was excellent with extra chips and sauces bought on request and everything piping hot and freshly cooked with the GF option taken seriously making...

Visited Shoal for the first time this evening with my work mates and I was not disappointed. Best fish and chips I’ve had in ages and loved the bowls of bottomless chips ! It was a very busy evening but the staff were friendly and...

Lovely meal with excellent food and gelato. Staff were lovely with my 5 year old and her friend. Special shout out to Amber who spoiled them the whole evening!

Absolutely lovely place to eat , food is excellent ,all staff very friendly ,but I must name one ,yulia, hope l have spelt name correctly , Yulia goes way and beyond , each time my friend and l go in for lunch ,she always seems...

Excellent and friendly service. Three of us, who were school friends, went yesterday and sat at the Bar. Lenny gave us a free bowl of chips whilst our meal was being cooked. We also had a free refill of our pot of tea for three....

Attentive and friendly- charming staff- very enjoyable lunch - and food cooked and served perfectly

I dined here with friends prior to going to the theatre. We were happily greeted and looked after by Damien who was so attentive. We all had haddock and chips which were cooked to perfection followed by an indulgent lemon meringue ice cream sundae. What...

Excellent lunch between tours. Attentive and quick service with extra top up chips offered. Good value.

We were a big group of 11 celebrating a friends success. I’m sure we were a challenge but Amber looked after us superbly. She was friendly, took care of us, made sure we never short of food or drinks and most importantly ensured we had...

Atmosphere and good was great. Amber provided fantastic service! Sorry we stayed late past your closing time!

What a great meal out, amazing food and service. Thank you Amber for making it so memorable, even if we couldn't order 2 quarter chickens! 😂

First time at this place. Very impressed. Service was excellent - our waitress Amber was first-class and dealt with us in a friendly, knowledgeable and helpful manner. Food was good and better than many other fish restaurants that we have been to. Will definitely go...

The place is perfect and the waiter Damien is excellent A pleasure to be here and eat your wonderful fish and chips Thank you so much

Massive thank you to Amber and her team for the excellent night out at your Winchester “Posh” Fish ‘n’ Chip restaurant. The venue is centrally appointed in the historic City, mixing an elegant decor with the vibrant buzz of the chef’s eagerly beavering away in...

Such a shame to give this restaurant just 3 stars. The food was great - I had hake which was fresh and delicious followed by an amazing lemon meringue sundae but this really shouldn’t have taken 21/2 hours. Fortunately we were not in a hurry,...

My mum and I visited for lunch yesterday. It was absolutely superb! The food was delicious and cooked perfectly. The fish was lovely and flaky. The batter was crispy and not a drop of grease to be seen. The chips were fluffy. Quite possibly the...

Fish and chips were nicely cooked and good value (we had the lunch time special) Restaurant was clean and staff very attentive, special thanks to Demi

Amazing fish and chips and the most delicious home made icecream! And important, very friendly staff

I was surprisingly impressed. The menu is basic but did not disappoint. They clearly perfected what they do. The food was fantastic! The restaurant is clean and tidy with a good atmosphere. The staff were friendly and efficient. Amber and Isabel were particularly helpful and...

Great food and very friendly staff, we really enjoyed our lunch. We went with our 3 year old and baby and the food arrived very efficiently and was delicious.

Delicious meal and great service. The Lemon Meringue ice cream sundae was delicious. The restaurant is in a lovely part of Winchester.

After a super lunch last year we decided to go out of our way again to Shoal in Winchester on a trip to Portsmouth and are so pleased we did. The set lunch is amazing value, service spot on and the quality of all the...

Went here for lunch when visiting Winchester, first week of Sept. All their food is cooked fresh to order, but did not wait too long. Cracking chips and really crunchy batter on fish, some of the best we have had. Lunch Special was really good...

I visited this establishment on Saturday. The food was amazing, freshly cooked to order. Staff were very attentive, friendly, and accommodating. Considering they were very busy, food and drinks arrived very quickly. Truly best fish and chips I ever had in country. Can't wait to...

Pleasant surprise you never know what to expect .Specially is fish & chips and did not disappoint. Fries were maybe best ever .Try the peas also. Highlight was the dessert. We tried the gelato with lemon meringue. Excellent certainly big enough to split for two...

Great for casual, fun, high quality dining. Professional staff, excellent service, super fresh food with excellent sides.

The food was fantastic, and the service was very good. Particularly impressive as we were such a large party (40+). Highly recommend.

WFCRC running group enjoying a fantastic fish n chip celebration. Staff, food and service was excellent, especially with such a large group of over 40. Thankyou

We took a group of over 40 hungry runners to Shoal to celebrate our running club’s birthday. We preordered food and it it was ready for shortly after we arrived. They managed to get 40 meals freshly cooked, right first time and out quickly…no mean...

I ordered a varied assortment of meals for a large group of 27 friends. The service was efficient and food delicious. Watching Amber sort and pack, made my head spin. Nothing was missed and everyone had a very enjoyable evening. Thank you

A lovely place for a relaxed lunch in the city centre. The lunchtime special was excellent value and very good quality. Waiting staff were friendly and helpful. Fish pie was cooked to order and was really tasty.

Went for dinner with my mother in law, lovely setting amazing food and the service was really good our waitress paige Christian couldn’t do enough for us, service was first class will from all staff can see they were externally hardworking and attentive to customers....

First time in a fish restaurant in ages and this has to rate as one of best. Cool vibe and excellent and attentive young staff. Food was first rate, cooked to order and unlimited chips which were super quality,as was fish.Special mention to Amber who...

We had separately ordered 2 x haddock and chips and were waiting for the second order. The guy in front of us did not get his food and the young lady behind the counter swore, aggressively snatched our bag from my partner and rummaged through...

This was my 5th visit and the food has been consistently perfect. I look forward to going again. Staff are very friendly.

The food was excellent amazing pies , fish and fabulous service . Our server Eddie could not of been more helpful and courteous. Really enjoyed the experience

Really friendly staff (especially Eddie who was just lovely!) and delicious food. There are other things to choose from apart from fish (chicken and pies) but we had haddock and cod and they were both delicious. Make sure you leave room for pudding - the...

We had the Shoals Lunchtime Special , one cheese pie and the others fish. Excellent value! The food was fresh and tasty, and even though the restaurant was busy, the service was quick and attentive. The gelato was pretty amazing as well.