9 best fish and chips in Brighton

This B-Corp beach shack has been riding Brighton’s wave of feel-good, do-good grub for over a decade – regularly topping lists of the UK’s most sustainable restaurants. Waste is low, profits go to community projects in Rwanda, and ingredients are sourced locally. And with seats stretching onto the pebbles, sea-to-plate really isn’t much of a stretch. We like to head here at sundown for the hake and calamari in malt-vinegar batter, stacked with minted peas, punchy dill tartar and skin-on fries. But pretty much everything from the restored fisherman’s arch kitchen has that something-something: sourdough-crumbed plaice, dry-aged burgers with schmaltz onions, fresh crab tostadas on oven-baked corn tortillas. No wonder it gets busy.

Address: 183 Kings Road Arches, Brighton BN1 1NB
Website: luckybeach.co.uk

Rybka

In a city that loves a culture mash-up, Rybka (meaning ‘the fish likes to swim’ in Polish) gives a cheeky, fishy wink to Polish tradition. Tucked down the narrow Meeting House Lane, it’s part fish bar, part cocktail den, part cultural hideout… and all good taste. Downstairs, responsibly sourced cod and triple-cooked chips share menu space with smoked mackerel pâté, vodka-spiked oysters and Cornish mussels. Upstairs, things get moodier in a small, darkened events space where Brighton’s art and music crowd hosts the kind of “you had to be there” nights you’ll be bragging about later. Order the pickled herring. Chase it with a frozen vodka shot. Bring your coolest friend.

Address: 41 Meeting House Lane, Brighton BN1 1HB
Website: rybka.fish