Two North Wales fish and chip shops have been named among the best in the UK.

Having just released its best beaches list on Monday (July 15), The Times has now revealed the top 23 fish and chip shops in the UK.

Introducing the list, the news outlet said: "Our annual best beaches special is the result of a 5,583-mile drive around the UK.

"Hundreds of beaches are examined to find what we deem the best in the country. It’s hungry work, and on the coast the only fuel is fish and chips."

Best beaches in the UK

The Times continued: "One of our most-loved suppers isn’t even a British invention — battered fish (or pescado frito) originated in Spain, while chips (pommes frites) came from France or Belgium.

"It is thought that the two were first served together in east London in 1860; an exotic concoction that took the nation by storm.

"In these superior chippies, a fish supper often comes with various regional accompaniments: the black pudding fritter, the deep-fried oyster, the battered haggis, and the poor man’s caviar — aka deep-fried cod roe.

"There’s clearly more to a fish supper than cod and chips, and the following is our selection of the best places to tuck in."

The best fish and chip shops in the UK

The best fish and chip shops in the UK, according to The Times, are:

  1. John Long’s, Belfast, Co Antrim
  2. Redcloak Fish Bar, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire
  3. Harbour Lights, Falmouth, Cornwall
  4. Finney’s, Benllech, Anglesey
  5. Colmans Seafood Temple, South Shields, Co Durham
  6. Little Wolf, Strangford, Co Down
  7. The Tunny Club, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
  8. Whitehead’s Fish & Chips, Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire
  9. Les and Rita’s Fish Bar, Rhyl, Denbighshire
  10. The Rocketeer, North Berwick, East Lothian
  11. French’s Fish Shop, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk
  12. The Haven, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire
  13. Bennett’s Fish & Chips, Weymouth, Dorset
  14. Morton’s, Ballycastle, Co Antrim
  15. Lighthouse Fisheries of Flamborough, East Riding of Yorkshire
  16. The Mermaid, Barmouth, Gwynedd
  17. East Coast, Musselburgh, East Lothian
  18. Steel’s Corner House Restaurant, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire
  19. Fraser’s, Penzance, Cornwall
  20. Fishers of Hunstanton, Norfolk
  21. Maggie’s, Hastings, East Sussex
  22. The Magpie Café, Whitby, North Yorkshire
  23. Lewis’s Fish Restaurant, Seahouses, Northumberland

Two North Wales fish and chip shops among the UK's best

Two fish and chip shops in North Wales were named among the UK's best by The Times:

Finney’s (Benllech)

Finney's has two fish and chip shops on Anglesey - one in Amlwch and the other in Benllech.

Its Benllech restaurant, The Times said, is among the best chippies in the UK and is so popular it attracts customers "in their droves".

The news outlet said: "The giant arrow billboards and adjoining road and car park might make this chippy look like an in-and-out car wash, but that simply shows how Finney’s must manoeuvre its customers who come — in their droves — for click-and-collect fish suppers.

"Once you’re armed with your haddock — which is battered in a coating perfected over the years to be naturally gluten-free — take it down to the beach, within view.

"The onion rings, coleslaw and tartare sauce are all homemade (as is the chicken curry) so don’t scrimp on sides."

Visitors to Finney's seem to agree with the high praise, as the chippy boasts a 4 out of 5 rating on Tripadvisor from 652 reviews.

One customer commented: "The best cod and chips ever. The fish completely filled the batter and was the most meaty moist fish ever. 100% best ever eaten. Thank you."

Les and Rita’s Fish Bar

Les and Rita's Fish Bar, which is just a 10-minute walk from the Rhyl promenade, also made The Times' list.

Describing the chippy, The Times said: "Les and Rita Pidduck started selling chip suppers in Rhyl 55 years ago, and the modern art on the walls of their shop on Wellington Road, a ten-minute walk from the prom, does little to change the impression that you’ve gone back to the Swinging Sixties.

"Their daughter Kay runs the restaurant now, aided by a team, and, once again, to take away is to miss a trick here.

"Instead, pick a booth — made from real vinyl and genuine Formica — and order a sit-down supper of fish, chips, mushy peas and bread that is neither artisan nor sourdough."

Customers have also been praising the Rhyl-based chippy, with Les and Rita’s Fish Bar boasting a 4.5 out of 5 rating on Tripadvisor from 457 reviews.

Visitors have described Les and Rita’s Fish Bar as a "hidden gem", "simply brilliant" and "top notch".

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One customer said: "We had heard about this fish & chip shop and so glad we found it.

"Excellent food, good, friendly service and very good value for money. Will definitely use again."

The Mermaid in Barmouth was also named among the 23 best fish and chip shops in the UK by The Times.