The Pelican in North Devon

Arguably the best fish and chip shop in the UK. They won best fish and chip restaurant of the year in 2018 and standards haven’t slipped. The fish is fresh and perfectly battered, the chips crispy on the outside and soft in the middle and the service is attentive and polite. I can’t recommend this place highly enough. Definitely visit!

We always visit this wonderful fish restaurant when on holiday in Devon. In my opinion it can’t be bettered anywhere in the country. Everything about the cod and chips is perfection. Lovely tasty white cod fillet which flakes showing it is very fresh, the lightest, crispest batter and great thick cut chips. It is all cooked with the minimum of grease left on the finished meal. To finish, the banana fritter is to die for! The portions are generous and the food is not over priced. Service is quick friendly and efficient. We will definitely be back!

Love this place, best chippy in Barnstaple. Food all cooked fresh & steaming hot and waiting staff always very friendly an helpful

Excellent all round, fast service and good price.

Never dissapoints! We visit regularly and always enjoy the food here. Well worth the money, arrives quickly, cooked to perfection, tastes great and the staff are super friendly & accommodating!

Have been here a few times at lunchtime with a group of up to 10 so we always prebook. The staff are always friendly and efficient and everyone enjoys their meals. There's a good choice on the menu including gammon, sausages and various types of fish and desserts too are available. Cod and chips is available in 2 sizes, the large one is huge and the smaller is still fine.

First time visit to the Pelican and it certainly won't be our last. The food was delicious and the staff are extremely friendly. Would highly recommend you book as it does get very busy especially on Friday's.

I ordered a double sausage and chips with curry sauce from take away side last Saturday night I was very dissatisfied with the quality and quantity of the food. The curry sauce was warm and really thick, the sausages were overdone, and the chips were soggy and lukewarm. The service was fast. I paid over £8.00 for this meal, which I think was too much for what I received.

Very rude staff service and extremely poor communication skills

I've been to The Pelican several times over the last couple of months. The fish is fantastic, huge, fresh and flakey with crisp batter - never had better. The service is great and the restaurant and loos are spotless. The only thing that could be improved are the chips - too pale, not crisp enough and stuck together - on ALL my visits.

Food is always hot and freshly cooked, all great quality.

Check closing time before visiting - as time on website different to actual closing time which we weren’t aware of! Food was okay but have had better on previous visits, no coffee as machine had been turned off due to closing! Booked on line for 7:15pm for 5 people - had we been aware that restaurant closed at 8pm we could have gone earlier or elsewhere which may have been a better option! Restaurant was very cold & although staff were pleasant & polite - we were very aware of the fact that they just wanted to go home. Disappointed.

This is our regular restaurant and it’s consistently really good food. You can’t beat their cod and chips and scampi and chips. Delicious food and very good service.

Been here a good few times now! Good BUT could be better! Tartare sauce defo needs to be a better version! Fish is good, despite being a little oily 🤭 Mushy peas ok... and service pretty good BUT have experienced and enjoyed better before!! Maybe a bit if an off day.... hence the 3 star review, whereas usually 4 or 5 star 🌟 👌😋❤️

Fantastic fish and chips. Quality, quantity, and service great

Fish not cooked. Staff couldn't care less. Sent the grilled cod back because it wasn't cooked. Waited 5 minutes while my partner ate her meal, didn't want it to get cold. Fish returned minus the garden peas. Mentioned all of this at the checkout, he was surprised when the generic "Was everything Okay sir?" received a negative response. No apology, just an "OK then that will be £££" We are frequent customers here but will now look elsewhere. They've become too complacent and standards have dropped.

Best fish & chips in Barnstaple 10/10

Always amongst the best you'll ever get....

Went with my daughter... I had fish and chips she had egg and chips very nice! A little mix up with her lunch but apart from that nice place and good food

Beautiful place but shame to be greeted by hooded man stood at counter waiting to do a uber eats

Lovely fish n chips, plenty of food and very nice staff, the restaurant is very clean and pleasant. Nice 😊

I honestly feel that this place has been the best sit in fish and chips for years now..my mum would also agree 👍

An absolute gem in Barnstaple, Pelican - Fish and Chips is likely the best spot in town! Prepare to be wowed by their delicious offerings. The place gets bustling, so booking a table is a must. Don't miss the chance to savor their fantastic fish and chips experience

Efficient..Clean. Good food and plentiful . Beautiful fish . Very kind polite and friendly staff.

Sadly can't recommend, just wasn't good

Extremely busy restaurant & take away. Worth booking if sitting down for food. Service and staff excellent.

After having soggy fish & chips a couple of weeks ago, tonight I thought we would give them a 2nd chance and we asked for the fish to be wrapped up separately from the chips, we live less than 5 mins from the shop and tonight they were absolutely disgusting, the chips were all stuck together and full of grease and the fish batter was soggy & full of grease. We won’t be going there anymore.

Mini cod and chips over £6 yet the cod was the size of a fat fish finger ridiculous hardly any chips too

Lovely staff, always friendly. The food is always cooked fresh and tastes delicious.

Great place to relax and enjoy the best fish and chips in the area.

Terrific food, reasonably priced in a spotless restaurant.

We used click and collect. There was something for everyone on the menu, which isn't always the case. We were very pleased with it all. XX

Pre order on there website , all fresh and ready to collect 15mins later , excellent food !

Great stuff, call 1st and ready for when you get there.

We were a party of 5Adults. We were served very to tasty hot food.we can't wait to go back for another meal

Beautiful food, good price, clean

Have always been happy with the food from here but not tonight. Ordered a large cod with curry sauce. The curry sauce was nice enough but the large cod was the same size as a regular sized cod from other establishments and the batter wasn't as good as it used to be. Disappointed.

Always been a regular here, but unfortunately they have been struggling to cope with the rush lately and as a result the food quality and portion sizes have suffered. This was supposed to be a large chips (which we share) and it didn’t even fill the tray. And unsure of what those black bits were. Shame, you used to be the best and amazing at it. Just because you’re busy, you can’t cut portion sizes and charge the same! (or more, as recent price increase) oh well… hopefully you can improve again.

Thought this place would be amazing, queued out the door. Veggie burger okay but no topping a blob of mayo. Hubby said cheese burger was lovely. Chips weren't as nice as expecting really dry.

Consistently excellent fish n chips!!!

Cod was bigger than the plate and absolutely gorgeous. Wife really loves the Cajun spiced Salmon too.

Had takeaway tonight but sadly our medium cod was dried out and more batter than fish. Then the mini cod and chips looked like a fish finger, even the lady serving asked the fryer if it should be two small bits and told no just one. To be honest the fryer was to engrossed laughing with the others in frying area. Normally 100% happy but not this time.

Great place for fish and chips. Recommended

Always the best tasting fish and chips around !

Normally lovely fish& chips white fish and crispy batter, but Tonight soggy chips soggy fish, Dinner ruined, such a shame.

My chips were way to soft more like squeezed tomatoes

Amazing food and brilliant service.

Lovely place to eat ,very reasonable price and very frendly staff, would definitely recommend

Bar Staff rude kept staring at us My sons burger was not cooked in the middle Then over charged on the bill

Brilliant and lovely white fish. Very generous.

The food was excellent, and the cod was so fresh and crispy. Grilled salmon was cooked perfectly and seasoned perfectly. The biggest letdown was the chops they were so soggy and must, which does let them down badly.

We arrived about 6pm Wednesday night not expecting it to be fully booked. Luckily the lovely lady on the desk ( 40’s attractive dark hair) found us a table for two and off we went. Very attentive service from all the staff. Although this is a fish and chip restaurant it has other items on menu. My partner went for cod, me ham egg and chips. Arrived piping hot and very quick. They have a great serif drinks too. Puddings looked great but I was full. Definitely be back despite it being and hour away but well worth it.

I had passed this Fish & Chip shop several times and it always looked busy, checked their web site and they were winners of best Fish & Chips back in 2018 so I stopped there late one weekday lunch time for a takeaway, big mistake, first of all no staff in takeaway part, could see them talking in the kitchen, after several minutes one came through and asked if I had been served!, I ordered cod and chips, which had to be cooked as all warmers were empty, eventually I received my order and sat in my car in the car park to eat, good part is the food was hot however the food was terrible, chips that had not been soaked in the cooking oil from the fish were edible the rest not, the batter on the fish was soggy and when I took the batter off, the fish itself was an awful grey colour and did not taste good so the lot went into the bin. I have no idea what has happened since 2018 but now not award winning in my humble opinion. I will stick with 'Squires' in Braunton.

Yeah👍they now carry oat milk Five stars We have been requesting oat milk for some time at at last they have started to stock it Well done pelica

Used to go to Squires in Braunton but the Pelican we find a lot better and it has its own car park too. Quality always good and the staff are exceptional. Can't wait till our next visit 🤗

4 out of 5 of us having diarrhea after eating today. Ive been on holiday here three weeks no issue until ate your food

Food is tasty, nice and simple atmosphere..

Great food but bad service. Prices are escalating (as everywhere) and if it weren't for the poor service (irrespective how busy the restaurant is) we would visit more frequently. Take away prices high too.

Best fish and chips in barnstaple. Nice restaurant, clean with plenty of seating. Fish was good quality, lovely cod,plaice and fish cakes. Good sized plates and good service. Good to eat in with a takeaway next to the restaurant. Disabled parking and toilets. Nice for families.

Fabulous fish & chips, crisp batter, great chips. Very pleased to see the grilled fish option and a lite bite option with salad. Lovely busy atmosphere and the staff were excellent, there but not intrusive. Very good wine and drinks list. We were there early on a Monday evening, you definitely need to book a table! A pearl in Barnstaple!

Best sit in fish n chippy i ever been to. Quick service, great staff and excellent fish n chips.

Great place to eat and world class fish and chips.

Been here loads of times, used it for years in fact...The food is always good, However today the service was not that good guys..The restaurant was not that busy...10-15 people there..Just 2 of us ....Ushered on to a a really tiny table for 2! That's ok if you're busy.. there were a dozen or more larger tables empty, we just moved.. The service was ok but not up the normal smiley/friendly standard...Would have had another coffee or even a sweet...no one came over and asked, in the end we had to grab someones attention... The main thing now here is this music/radio (is it new?)...(same last time) .not sure if it is for customers or the staff benefit, we had difficulty having a conversation...bit bassy & boomy...Suggestion, turn it down a notch or change the station....I did mention it in conversation to the guy at the till when paying, in a friendly way, no reply or comment. Having said all of this the food is great and it is a shame. We will just go once again to see if they listen..

Can be very noisy. Food is always excellent and staff very attentive.

Spit roast chicken not cooked enough. Chips were soggy asked for mayonnaise given vegan mayonnaise which is dreadful. Staff have slight attitude problem not very friendly. Paid extra for mushy peas as chicken comes with coleslaw and salad why not just take off coleslaw and salad and replace with peas? Were both wasted as not eaten.

Love there, fish and chips It's as good as any fish and chip shop in North Devon. And if you want more chips, just ask there free Great place, beautiful food worth 5 stars any time

Very tasty fish, not drowned in oil as is unfortunately often the case in England. The price is rather in the lower range. Overall package fits. A recommendation!

Good food, quick service... Got quite warm in the back of the restaurant, after asking they put the air conditioning on but still quite warm but only at the back of the ground floor so probably not the best area to sit if you tend to get warm.. Service was friendly and will definitely go back for more.

Brilliant, but best book ahead it's really busy at peak times

Our previous visit 2 years ago was good. However, we visited today and was met by a very unhelpful server with a poor attitude. It seemed he couldn't be bothered/didnt care about our need to know about certain allergens. We had to leave and seek food elsewhere. We were really disappointed and would not recommend to others.

We had a click and collect take away . Best food I've had from pelican I struggle with fried food so had the grilled cod and chips the cod was absolutely gorgeous best fish I've ever had!! Cooked to perfection and even the chips were good not too greasy at all ,everyone enjoyed their meals . Can't wait to come back again 😋👍

Scrumptious food which is not to expense. The chips are unlimited and the food is always hot.

Great takeaway and restaurant. Prices competitive, food good and portions generous. Will be back

Huge portion of cod and chips - note to staff, please consider doing a smaller option as we wasted so many chips. However, the fish was absolutely delicious and very fresh.

I had a takeaway which I picked up on Saturday just gone..the food was fantastic but the blonde girl serving it was awful her she had no customer service whatsoever I stood and watched her treat all the customers the same with no welcome no thankyou and just really bad attitude...someone like her shouldn't be front of house greeting customers not a great experience. Shame as food was brilliant.

We had the Pelican special, and it was excellent. Staff were all very pleasant and a lovely restaurant.

Excellent food and service. Salt and vinegar all over the plaice which…I liked. Top batter and perfect chips.

I never thought I’d say this, and maybe it’s a bit deep, but possibly too much battered sausage.

Brilliant restaurant light and airy. Great food at a good price, generous proportions. Friendly staff we couldn't ask for more.

Very nice restaurant, clean, friendly staff, not overpriced

A perfect end to a day on the beach, crispy batter, cod that falls apart, lovely chip. A perfectly cooked meal.

Been a few times now and found it to be consistently great. Definitely recommended.

Sorry to say that the sit down service in this restaurant has really fallen in the last couple of years as the staff seem to spend a large amount of time standing behind the counter chatting rather than serving customers. We were there recently and...

A Good chippy.... a pleasant surprise for me as i went in there spontaneously... fish was lovely, good chips. Fish and chips is a big feature of my reviews... this chip shop is right up there....Next time in the North Devon area this will be my Fish supper for me and the Family.

I have heard that management is thinking of stocking alternative milk, so come on management and then I will give you five stars

Pleasant staff good food and quick service.

Not bad fish and chips; I’ve been destroyed for quality fries (chips) in Belgium and Australia, so found the fries (chips) here a little moist. Fish was nicely cooked however. Cajon Salmon was nice-portion was a little less then I would have liked. Very friendly staff. Joint Obviously loved by the locals.

Truely amazing fish and chips We had the special of the day, 4 adults all amazing food, cooked beautifully light and crisp batter, white flaky fish and proper chips, served with mushy peas and a cup of tea, proper food done really well

Food was great. Didnt have to wait to long. Friendly staff.

Staff were good... Food was also good and value for money

I popped in yesterday with family for a bite to eat. the service was fantastic and, was dealt with by the prettiest and friendliest lady there: Alannah. I can't wait to come back but, living on the north devon coast without a car, it's nit...

Very good quality food as always

Genuinely spent 6hrs on the road today to get here. Used to visit The Pelican regularly when I lived in Yelland years ago...it wasn't too bad today, service a bit slow, waited ages to be seated, young lady who assisted us really didn't want to be there, probably having a bad day ? I had the salmon, very small portion for the price and extremely greasy .. partner had the cod special and said it was devine. Now when I said we drove 6hrs to get here that's the truth, I'm having surgery soon and had a list of favourite foods I've eaten and wanted to experience again...the fish and chips at the Pelican was on that list..I left a little disappointed. Next stop another day this week...Williams Arms Braunton for what I remember to be the best carvery around 🤞

Prompt service at the takeaway. Cooked fresh, very good food and value for money. Thank you.

Always excellent fish and chips.

Best chippy in barnstaple...Great food great staff & good prices.

Modern, clean very friendly restaurant with lovely and helpful staff. Great value fish and chips of the highest quality.

Lovely sausage and chips. Sausages are jambo size didn't realise when ordering. Struggled to eat 2.

Always excellent fish and chips, great restaurant and friendly staff

I have eaten here many times and would normally have given it 5 star top marks but on this last visit the chips served were not quite up to their high standards. To be fair though, anywhere can have an off day.