Fishminster

Say yes to fish cakes at Fishminster and you won’t regret it. I can’t get enough of them. The chips are good — not amazing but still tasty — and the battered sausage are pretty great too. Overall, a reliable chippy!

Smashing fish and chips, not an easy thing to find in Bristol, unfortunately.
Batter is nice and crispy and light, not too thick. Chips are chunky and plentiful and the mushy peas have that perfect armpit flavour… what? No? Just me with the armpits then?

Amazing fish and chips– love the boxes too! only thing wrong with it is it’s not open at random times…

Since Fishminster opened it’s been causing quite a stir. Reputed by many to be the best fish and chip shop in Bristol, the place has been enjoying unrivalled popularity from the get go. More recently however, it’s been coming in for a bit of flak — nothing to do with the locally sourced fish and handmade chips I hasten to add! Instead, it’s the name and style of their signs that is causing a bit of an issue.
Following the success of the Bedminster shop, (which, of course, has heavily influenced the naming of the business, being a marriage between the name of the area and what they do best), the owners decided to open a second Fishminster in Clifton. They also own Rucola, on Apsley Road in this upmarket area, so they know the market well, and expect the new outlet, with its fresh fish counter adding interest and choice, to be another runaway success.
But Fishminster, Clifton, on Whiteladies Road, had only been open a few weeks before the controversy surrounding its branding started to gain momentum. Being similar in look and tone to Pieminister, the owners of the fabled handmade pie chain have started to grumble that Fishminster is too similar in appearance to be distinguishable from this essentially rival business.
It’s true that the format is similar. It’s possible to eat in or take-​away, the level of service is equivalent, and the philosophy and ethos of the businesses is closely matched. And yes, there’s even a resemblance where the branding is concerned as well. But… and it’s a big but… how easy is it for a fast food outlet to be original these days? Pretty difficult, I’d say. The argument has to be that if you want to open a modern looking take-​out with seating area, that’s clean and serviceable, with contemporary branding and a progressive ethos, then it’s impossible to do it without in some way mimicking what has gone before… and not necessarily intentionally, but simply because the options are limited. I would suggest that Pieminister (a phenomenal business with a great reputation), should consider it a compliment that there’s perhaps more than a passing resemblance between the two businesses.

Set up on the spot where an old fishmonger once stood, I don’t know if Bedminster’s stylish Fishminster is in any way related to Pieminster — but it kind of does for fish and chips what Pieminster does for pies: serves the very best in this British classic.
Not only can you buy fresh fish from the fish counter to take home and cook yourself (daytime only), but you you can also grab ready-​made take away fish & chips all boxed up and ready to wolf in front of the TV — or you can sit down and eat in their relaxed restaurant. Everything served is prepared fresh on the premises — from the chunky fresh chips to the crispy fish batter. The shop also tries to source produce that has been fished responsibly from sustainable sources, so you can enjoy a guilt-​free fish supper!
This is another great addition to the range of great shops along Bedminster’s vibrant North Street.

A fairly recent addition to North Street, Fishminster took the place of the old Pacific fish bar, and is far more in keeping with the up and coming image of the area. The interior is smartly done, with tiles and neat little tables and chairs. During the day, it doubles as a fishmonger, and offers fresh fish caught every day. The prices are about average for things like sausage and chips, but rise steeply for some of their more unusual items. Their fish pie, made fresh every day in-​house, is worth a special mention, but they don’t make many, so you really have to be there early to have a chance at getting one. For those who are feeling lucky, they run competitions to win free fish and chips. The business must definitely be doing something right, as it is always busy (absolutely packed on a Friday night) and they are in the process of opening a second branch in Clifton.

This place takes fish ‘n chips to a new level. A friend was raving about it the other day so I decided to sample it for myself. Walking down North Street, and keeping my eyes peeled for a takeaway outlet, I nevertheless managed to walk straight past the venue in question. This was due to the fact Fishminster looks more like a swanky restaurant than a chippy. With its sophisticated logo and oak panelled windows, the place is as far removed from your average chip shop as possible. Modern and spacious inside, it caters for eating in too, and the food is actually quite well priced considering how hammed up the outlet is. And as for the quality of the food: the best fish ‘n chips I’ve had in ages, of course.

Quite literally, this is by far and away the best fish and chip shop in all of Bristol, and I won’t hear a bad word said about it. For starters, their chips are done to perfection — fairly chunky with a crisp outer layer and a soft, fluffy inside — and their batter for all things fish and sausage related is second to none. Next, they serve everything in a neat little cardboard box that perfectly houses your meal and prevents vinegar and grease getting anywhere near your clothes, unlike the traditional paper wrapping tends to do. And, lastly and probably the best reason for heading to this place in Bedminster, is the fact that they have the freshest fish available and offer a daily, seasonal special that’s been caught that very day — it’s a little more expensive than normal, but it’s well worth the extra outlay. Yes, I’m a fan!