Winkies Take-Away and Restaurant in Tendring

Great always… been eating fish and chips here for 10+ years. Shannon is always a joy polite and very welcoming. Great variety with plenty of Fresh fish

We have just had an excellent fish and chip meal in the restaurant at Winkies. The food was piping hot, lovely light and crisp batter on the fish and well-cooked chips. We were made to feel very welcome and the whole experience was very enjoyable.

After a canoe club session at the outdoor lido, we were recommended winkies as the best chip shop in brightlingsea, we weren’t let down, all 7 of us had a really excellent meal, with people saying they were the best chips they’ve tasted in a long while, the staff were also very helpful and friendly, so we will be back……

Would last about 5 minutes where I come from in London, maybe we are a little bit spoilt in the Smoke, unfortunately Brightlingsea is a small place without very much choice, so unless you drive to Wivenhoe, they have you by the short and curlies. Chips were shocking, and unless you spend more than a tenner, you have to pay cash, and to be fair, most of us don't carry cash anymore. I'll make a point of walking straight past next time and eat in one of the fabulous Brightlingsea pubs, the chippy's are about as much good as an ashtray on a motorbike!

Some of the best fish and (especially) chips I've tasted on a long long time! Crisp, light, hot and full of flavour.

Absolutely top class . Cooked to perfection and friendly staff . Great ambience easy to find and ten out of ten for cleanliness. Just moved to Brightlinea a was recommended Winkies.

How to get to 100 characters describing a fish and chip shop. Very good fish and chips. They had... very good fish and chips.

I went to the winkies for the first time as was suggested by the local people of brightling sea but the staff isn’t that polite and they do not tell you will ordering that you have to buy the dips and sauce separately. Their menu also doesn’t point it out and when asked for a dip they said they can’t take less than 5 pounds from card swipe machine. I didn’t have any cash on me and they didn’t offer any help also didn’t give me a space to sit when asked for as it was raining outside. It was a total disappointment for me. Plus the food I got was way too oily. I had two tissues full of oil. So all in all not a good experience. 😭

A great choice of fish. I had cod and my partner had rock. They were beautifully cooked. The chips were perfect. The mushy peas were great. The staff were friendly and the service excellent. It was very popular. We will most definitely go there again when we are in the area.

You can tell it is a good chip shop because there is a queue. But it was still quite quick despite being cooked to order. Lovely fish and chips. Walked down to the harbour and sat and watched the boats while we ate the fish and chips. Great to be at the seaside eating fish and chips.

Brilliant food absolutely delicious, delightful and very helpful staff. We had two haddock and chips with pineapple fritter.

Great skate wing cooked in rice flour as opposed to batter. Delicious! Best chips ever, not greasy, crispy & freshly cooked to order. Generous portions!

This is the best fish and chips we have had. Everyting is cooked fresh to order. Good quality fish cooked to perfection. Staff were all friendly and welcoming. The reasturant was clean and well ventilated.

Best fish and chips! We visited after seeing all the great reviews and were not disappointed. Freshly and wonderfully cooked we all thoroughly enjoyed our meals. Looking forward to returning in the future.

Best fish and chips reviewed by a foodie....I'm so happy we found this gem best fish and chips I'm sure I've ever had everyone in our group agreeded I can't fault it

Great value, freshly cooked, quality product , quick efficient service , definitely will go back soon

May Bank Holiday. we were staying at the Lakeside Camping Park. Wandered up to Winkies, had to order then wait outside which is the Normal for today. Food was Brilliant, Fish cooked very well, not greasy , Chips were to perfection. Staff very good and Happy. A credit to the town. Luvverly

Took Mum to Brightlingsea for a Good Friday fish and chip lunch. I can't have wheat so they cooked me a piece of Huss/Rock Eel with no batter on it. Mum had cod and we shared a medium portion of chips between us. Cost us just over £16 but worth every penny. Mum said the batter on her cod was thin, light and crispy. The fish was full of flavour. The chips were crispy on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside. Nothing was greasy to the taste and there was very little grease on the paper they were wrapped in. Mum's first experience of Winkies fish and chips was excellent. Everything was very hot as it was cooked to order. Plenty of chips for two. Nothing is to difficult for them. The lady in front of me was Vegan and even she found something there she could have. The staff go out of their way to help each individual customer. We will definitely be returning again this year. As we are still in lockdown we had to wait outside for our order but everything was working well.

Great scampi and chips ~ hot freshly cooked and tasty. Good selection Covid controls in place. Friendly.

I live locally and had fish and chips last night, I have used them several times. But the chips were very small, look like they came out of a bag. Also fish very greasy.

The haddock is the best and the portions are ample. Nice crispy batter and proper chips. Great friendly service.

Winkies isn’t the nearest fish & chip shop for me but it’s always been worth going that little bit farther until now, the price’s have gone up and the quality and size of fish has gone down. Ordered medium cod and it was more like small.pickled onions 85p & Gherkins 95p what a rip off

Have been here twice this week. Only had chips & mushy peas the first time but went back and had fish, chips & mushy peas a couple of days later. It was brilliant both times. We are going back again tonight excellent value for money!

Ate in the restaurant fish and chips, I’m fussy about my chips and have to say they were the best chips I have ever eaten, perfectly cooked and crisp.Fish was of a high quality, had a medium but it was like a large.Waitress attentive and friendly, they also sell alcohol in the restaurant.

While staying in Brightlingsea we visited Winkies Restaurant, staff friendly and attentive , food portions very good and Ian meal was freshly cooked with some starters being cooked from frozen, overall had a nice no fuss meal in a relaxing atmosphere. Would visit again if ever in the area.

If you want a good fish and chips, Winkies is where it’s at! I’ve only had their takeaway but it’s always cooked perfectly. It’s reasonably priced and the staff are always friendly and courteous. Thank you Wjnkies!

Have eaten here numerous times, always good quality fish and great service. The restaurant is always busy but service is good.

Family evening meal was just right for us. Good value excellent fish and great chips. Rock eel was very tasty. Kids portions were good so all in all a good evening was had by all. Thanks guys.

Having enjoyed our first visit to Brightlingsea we decided to have fish and chips. My teenage daughters were both hungry and really looking forward to it. We asked for directions to the nearest chippy and were directed to Winkies. My first impression was how miserable the older gentleman who was serving us was. He barely said thank you and just looked hostile to the point that I was going to walk out. Our cod and chips were over cooked to the point that the batter was burnt. The chips were burnt looking too. Portion sizes were ok but the food very disappointing. We won’t visit again.

I've eaten in and had takeaway fish and chips from Winkies and it has always been excellent. Eating in is better because the chips seem to sweat a bit when you do take away. Fish is excellent (both cod and haddock) as are the pies. I come from Grimsby so ignore all the negative comments on TripAdviser about the fish because it's as good as you'll find in any chippie in Grimsby or Cleethorpes and they know their stuff up there.

We love winkies but we do find it over priced. And the portion sizes are small. Not a lot of fish and chips for the money. However the chips are the best on Brightlingsea

I went here based on previous highly rated reviews. It was not so good to follow that decision. Tastless fish and chips. Cod, really, I do not think mine were cod, which is what I ordered

Not the best chippy in Brightlingsea that’s for sure, it’s the 3rd best out of 3. They use frozen chips which are tasteless! What decent chippy has ever used frozen chips???? Although the service is very good and the waitresses are very helpful and friendly they are severely let down by the food. The fish must be frozen like the chips as that is just as tasteless! If you’re ever going to Brightlingsea to have fish and chips don’t use this one!

First visit to Brightlingsea and I found this place using TripAdvisor. Really lovely, fresh fish and chips, big portions and great service! Highly recommended!

We visited Winkies after reading the reviews on here and were not disappointed. The medium cod was huge, well cooked and very yummy. The kids meals were also a very good size, we had no complaints from our 2 hungry little people! The staff were very friendly and we were treated with big smiles upon arrival. Great value, great service and great food. No complaints from us!

Living close by have visited Winkies many times for fish and chips. The atmosphere is excellent and the food is out of this world. My one criticism is that the portion sizes are far too big resulting in a waste of excellent food.

The best fish and chips on the Essex coast. Medium fish was huge, full of flavour, chips and peas made the meal perfect. White wine with the meal, staff happy friendly, just wanted to make your evening wonderful. Recommend it to all.

Went to winkies last night because it was in the past one of my favourite fish and chips but last night it was absolutely awful I had plaice and chips and the fish was so over cooked that the burnt batter tasted like a burnt biscuit it was vile and my wife ordered as it said on their menu home made fish cakes and after tasting just one bit she said it’s all potato and no fish and when she told the man who cooked it he said we don’t make them anymore we buy them in and believe me they was awful my wife couldn’t eat them and left it on the plate so they shouldn’t say home made fish cakes on the menu if it’s a lie but it’s something I never thought I’d say that my favourite fish and chip restaurant is now completely off my go again list ile have to find another nice fish and chip restaurant good bye winkies it’s a shame but stop over frying the fish and burning the batter and definitely stop selling those all potato and no fish in them fish cakes but what’s more to the point you’ve just lost us as regular customers keep custom don’t lose it

Stopped in here on a day trip to Brightlingsea via the foot ferry from East Mersea. We ate in and the food & service was both excellent - we'd all like to go again next time we're in town.

Fanstastic cod and chips washed down with a lovely glass of house wine.The service in the restaurant was super efficient. The guys always make you feel welcome, that's why we return again and again to eat in. Keep up the good work.

Had fish and chips takeaway and sat in the car to eat them (had the dog with us). Being a trawler man’s son I have in the past been spoiled with the best fish you can get from around Britain’s coast. This was Good Cod and excellent chips.

Have eaten here a couple of times when visiting Brightlingsea and not been disappointed. Freshly cooked to perfection and great Skate portion. Very friendly and excellent service. Definitely recommend a visit.

2nd visit to this lovely little restaurant whilst visiting family nearby. Small, but adequate menu. Huge portions. Excellent service with very friendly staff.

We had sailed round from Ipswich and come ashore for a ‘pint and a pie’...well, something like that!

Great chips and super friendly service. Delicious food all round. Would defiantly eat there again when in Brightlinsea.

Medium cod, chips and mushy peas with a cuppa. Good service and the cod was perfectly cooked. Always love the atmosphere in this small but busy restaurant

Made the longer walk to Winkies based upon the reviews, but was very disappointed. The chips tasted like they were left over from the day before and the staff were not particularly friendly. Go to the Waterside Take Away instead, much better quality, friendlier staff and nearer the marina / harbour.

We have been to winkies in the past and it has been good but afraid to say this Fri evening it was poor. The chips were hard and clearly the potatoes used were well past there best

Really freshly cooked, huge portions (warning 1 medium chips will be fine for 2 of you - may explain some very plump seagulls) then carry it down to the seawall or the hard; grab a beer as you go - try the Railway pub.

Winkies is by far the best fish and chip shop in Brightlingsea. The food is hot and fresh, not greasy and loads of flavour. The staff are always courteous and polite.

The Fish & Chip restaurant we have previously used in Brightlingsea (near the Harbour Master's Office) was closed so we thought we'd try Winkies Fish & Chip Restaurant. Came out best option on needed Google search for somewhere else to eat. The place filled up after we got there. Friendly welcome and service. Prompt service, pretty good even as they became busier. Good range of sea food. Many combinations available. We chose not to have a starter. Good job we didn't. We were all so full after the main course. No room for desert either! Food quality was very good. Well worth a visit if you haven't been there before. Family friendly. Menu says cash only but they told us that you can pay by credit card if you are spending over £10.

Our second visit to get fish and chips from Winkies All cooked fresh ! Big portions very tasty 😋 we did take away but you can eat in the restaurant.

I had walked a bit too far and must have been wobbling a bit when I looked in the window of Winkies. I was beaconed in and invited to sit down for a while. This was the start of something special.

Always have take away and have been here several times. Really yummy fish and chips all freshly cooked. Already looking forward to my next visit!

This is the best fish and chips i have eaten, The restaurant is very nice we chose to sit inside to have the fish and chips and it was great, Fresh fish not greasy very big portion and very nice staff.

I was visiting Brightlingsea for a couple of days and looked on Google for a place to eat and Winkies came up so I booked by phone as they had a restaurant and went there and was most surprised at the excellent quality of the food and the waitresses attentive care, so surprised and restaurants theme is a nautical one. EXCELLENT.

Exactly what you want from a real chip shop, crisp perfectly cook chips and wonderful fish in crispy batter.

Have visited Winkies on several occasions and have gotten around to writing a review. Went again last week and once again the portions were huge the staff friendly and attentive and most importantly the fish and chips were fantastic. It is a little tucked away but it is well worth the trip.

Not been in the restaurant for about two years although used the takeaway frequently. Had a great meal in there the other night. Great cod, chips and peas, beer and a starter. Very tasty. Good and fast service. Reasonable price.

Waitress was friendly and answered all questions when asked, unfortunately card machine had a minimum spend of £15 when paying individually this is quite high.

Been to Winkies countless times. They always remember us, food always great and quick. Parking a bit of a nightmare...

Visited village for the chistmas market. Stayed on b & b so neded somewhere fir dinner. Outstanding fish and chips...

A lovely little restaurant, fabulous fish and chips. Just perfect. Has to be the best in town! Give it a...

Simply the best fish and chips in town. Staff friendly, efficient and eager to please. Delightful seaside/marine decor with comfortable seating and charming ambience.

Each time we ate at Winkies we had Cod, chips and mushy peas, it was equally delicious on every visit.

My wife and I decided to sit in the restaurant in comfort rather than take away. What a great decision! We enjoyed the most delicious fish and chips we have ever had. The fish portion was gigantic, fresh, moist and coated in a lovely crispy batter. The chips were also top-notch, crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. These were accompanied by tasty garden peas. The young lady serving us was very pleasant and helpful. We have decided that if we fancy fish and chips in the future, we will never bother again with take-away. We will head down to Winkies in Brightlingsea and eat in the restaurant there. It was a real pleasure! I honestly don't think Winkies' fish and chips can be beaten! Our visit to Winkies was on Friday 20th October 2017.

Don't be put off by the queue, it is worth the wait. The food is cooked to order and it was great to be able to have a variety of fish, such as plaice and rock salmon, rather than the "fish" that northern chippies only seem to sell.

As sit-down chippies go, Winkies is excellent; fresh fish, good chips, not greasy. It’s a cafe, but easily passes as a place to spend an informal evening.

Had a fantastic meal at this restaurant on Saturday staff and atmosphere top class recommend to anybody if they like fish and chips

I buy fish and chips from Winkes about once a fortnight. It is always excellent and incudes a generous portion of chips. Staff are very friendly. Highly recommend.

After reading so many fab reviews we were really excited about Winkies Thoroughly disappointed batter on the fish was greasy and oily Chips hard and tastlessMuch better elsewhere in the area

I have had fish and chips just about everywhere but nothing like this place food is cooked fresh chips are lovely not like most others white and gungy and the portions are wow all in all I don't know why other chip shops not all but most give you uncooked soggy awfull white raw looking chips but this place is with out doubt the best just can't be beaten for absolutely lovely fresh cooked food and we are going again tonight this will be our sixth time now so pleased that someone recommended it to us and now I am recommending it to others

Love the place. Don't try a large portion of fish unless you have the appetite of a giant. Our favourite fish and chip restaurant. All our friends who visit insist on going there.

Went there three times. Each time experienced good service, and good Fish and Chips. Would not recommend the wines.

The take away would get 4, the restaurant just a 2, so averaged out at 3, so saved by the chips. This is because on my last visit I had a particularly nasty experience with a burger which should never happen in this day and age. Despite having proper quorn veggie burgers (the gold standard for none meat eaters) on the menu in the take away, when I visited the restaurant and ordered a veggie burger, what I received on my plate was something that I had not seen since the 80s. It was one of those horrible mashed up cauliflower/carrot/pea coated in bread crumb type burgers which you would generally only serve to 3 year olds. That is not good. After really looking forward to my food (I was starving) I was so incredibly disappointed that I had to tell the staff, to which I was told: "we do have the quorn burgers, you can have one of those next time you come". I don't think so.... That muck should only ever be sold at Iceland and never in a chip shop, especially not in a restaurant!

We had take out fish and chips today. Tasted soooo much better than at home in the Midlands. The flavour of the plaice was beautiful. Everything was cooked while we waited. Well worth it.

We visit the area every year. As my wife's family live nearby. We live in Cornwall. We enjoy fish and chips, and have eaten in Brightlingsea very often. But our long standing fish and chip restaurant has recently changed hands and the long standing reviews have gone down. Thus after much research we selected Winkies. We ate there on a Saturday evening. And the food and service were fantastic. It was so good that we booked a table for our last night. And we were not dissappointed. Great great great. Large portions. Cooked to perfection. Service very good. And the bill. Very good. Will we return. Its a yes from me, and its a yes for her.

This in my opinion is the best Chippy .. Friendly staff.. Nice size portions and with the best batter ever..

I have to say we eat here regularly and have never been disappointed. The food is fresh cooked and beautiful. The prices reflect the quality of the food and a great range of local fresh fish.

Ate here today and had the best fish and chips ever. Lovely fresh Rock and Plaice wonderful crispy batter and nice crunchy chips. The medium portion was huge and we could not finish it all but really was very fresh and very well cooked

Always come here whenever I'm in Brightlingsea. So much choice and easy, friendly service. It isn't overpriced either like some chip shops.Tucked away down a little side street, definitely give it a go. And if you haven't tried one before go for a battered Mars Bar, they're nicer than they sound! Lots of veggie options.

Only used the takeaway as staying just down the road. Huge portion of Cod and chips, well cooked and not greasy. Seating for use while waiting for fish to be cooked to order. Noticed on price list that they do pollock and chips for £2.90 if you want a cheaper option.

Not been in the restaurant for a bit but the take away fish and chips are still excellent. Highly recommend the place.

We have used and enjoyed this fish and chip shop for many years and have always found the food cooked perfectly and served by friendly, helpful staff. Our last visit was for take away but we also use the restaurant on occasions where we found the same quality and service applies.The quality of the food is always the same and will continue to use this restaurant in the future.

For me, this is the best fish and chip shop in the area. You always get great quality, chips and their batter is perfect - always crisp, you don't get soggy bottoms here!The staff are great and will do nice touches like give lollies to my children.You really couldn't ask for more. I haven't eaten at the restaurant but I'm sure it's a very good meal, given the quality of the takeaway.

For decades this fish and chip shop has been a stable part of brightlingsea.great service and fantastic food.BEST CHIPS IN BRIGHTLINGSEA

Lovely little restaurant in brightlingsea with a great friendly service and beautifully cooked fish and chips

Went with the ladies for lunch, exceptional fish and chips cooked to perfection. Would definitely recommend and will be returning soon.

the fish and chips are well cooked and not dripping with grease like others, the staff are pleasant.Ian

The fish and chips are amongst the best we have tasted. Portions have stabilised and the quality is always high. The fish is always perfectly cooked, the batter is excellent and the chips are clean and not greasy. We now visit at least once a week, eating out in the summer and using the Restaurant in winter.

Wonderful fresh Fish & Chips. Couldn't get crispier batter or crispier chips anywhere, absolutely gorgeous. They do gluten free batter too - which I defy anyone to tell the difference between the normal. Can't praise them enough - can't eat them too much !!! Have been going there for years, absolutely brilliant....

Have been going to Winnie's for many years always good food, very pleasant , they are friends now, can't wait for next visit, well done

Had haddock & chips from here on 1/9/16....very generous portion size, good value and absolutely delicious! Thoroughly recommended.

Took my two young grandchildren here for a sit-down evening meal and they were made most welcome. Loved the sea themed décor ( and fishy toilet seat!). Good choice of kids meals and they ate everything which is rare for them . Lovely relaxed atmosphere and something for the adults too - alcohol served ! Would certainly visit again if in the area.

Always great service, good portions and perfect food. Crispy chips not greasy. Best by far in Brightligsea.

Very friendly staff. Good fresh food. Good value. Retro restaurant decor gives the full dining experience.

We had a takeaway from here....the fish portion was an excellent size.......the chips were lovely...not too greasy....would recommend.

The staff are clean and always happy the fish & chips are A1 the best in town and around brightlingsea.

The fish isn't greasey, unlike from other places in town. The chips excellent. A great place to grab a take away or eat in.

My wife and I took my father for dinner at Winkies and we all agreed it was the best fish and chips we'd ever had (and at 92 Dad has had a few portions of fish and chips). We used to rave about the fish at Aldeburgh but Winkies is in a league way above those guys. The food, service and cleanliness were top notch. Thanks Winkies, we will be back.