Food: Fishermans Wife a.k.a Bryans, Headingley...Lacking..

We had previously been on New Years Day, an attempt to banish a horrendous hangover, it worked, fish and chips are kill or cure lets be right. Beyond the fact that we had been I cant remember much.

Now my father in law claims to be something of an aficionado of fish and chips and so demanded a visit to these so far unchartered waters. It will prove to be his first and last visit.




The quality is undoubted, the service is appalling.

The waitress seemed distracted and rushed as she took our order, I wasnt convinced that all things had been noted but let it go..

Twenty minutes later ad we were told, meals out in four, well it was ten but whats six minutes when the quality is good..


Top quality fish and chip demand that fresh out of the fryer sizzling crispness. From fryer to plate, time is paramount. Its also important that all meals arrive if not at exactly the same time then within moments. At no point did we actually all have the full elements of our meal on the table.

My more health conscious wife had prawn salad and new potatoes. The potatoes never appeared despite being assured they would be two minutes and then "oh sorry they were forgotten".

My less health conscious jumbo haddock arrived alongside my father in laws medium. There was no difference in size although three pound difference in price. Another five minutes for the mushy peas, an integral part I am sure you will agree. Elsewhere on the table we were variously waiting for bread and butter, sauces, drinks and by the time everyone had their meal any elements of pan to plate freshness was long gone.

The meals were ok, suffering from the polite wait we all did while people meals arrived. The waitress blamed a large table that had disrupted things, true there was a table of around a dozen but they had all finished by the time we ordered so that wasn't relevant.

Errors on the bill compounded this visit and with so many fish restaurants around, The Fishermans Wife needs to do much more to stay relevant. It can make great strides by improving service.