Last weekend we got in the (new) car with (new) forward facing car seats for the twins (more exciting than it sounds) and left SW London for a day out. Except by the time we reached the M25 we realised in our excitement we’d forgotten to actually decide where we were going. Seeing a sign for Brighton, we headed there.
Thanks to the marvels of social media, my plea for help on where to eat coeliac safe gluten free fish and chips in the Brighton or Hove area was promptly responded to with lots of great suggestions. High five to the ever helpful gluten free community!
Googling on the iPhone I stumbled across links to Wolfies fish and chips in Hove who seemed to offer gluten free fish and chips on a daily basis. Really? Might I actually enjoy some gluten free fish and chips for lunch by the sea? I telephoned to check they had gluten free batter. They did, and a new batch was just being made up just as I called. Were there any tables for us to eat in and, even more demandingly on my part, were there two high chairs? Yes to both. It turned out the tables were the high, bar stool type, and – seriously going beyond the call of the duty – owner Dave Keston had borrowed the highchairs from the pub up the road. Having squeezed us and the double buggy into not exactly the largest space inside Wolfies, we ordered.
What impressed me as we waited for our order in the clean looking, white tiled, fish and chip shop was not only the steady stream of customers but they were all giving feedback to the team on how fantastic they thought the fish and chips were at Wolfies. Literally every person entering the shop said how much they loved the fish and chips there. At Wolfies the fish is sustainably sourced and the potatoes come from a farm in the area.
Gluten free fish and chips are offered every day, unlike at many chippies. A dedicated, separate fryer is used for cooking the fish in gluten free batter. The chips are only ever cooked with chips meaning no cross contamination there either. The gluten free batter at Wolfies is a combination of rice, tapioca and potato flour which has been developed by Dave’s son who has Coeliac and gluten intolerant friends. He’s worked hard on his recipe, even working on through into the night to get it just right.
By the time our fish and chips arrived, my expectations were sky high. And I was not disappointed. The gluten free batter was light and crunchy. It wasn’t a tempura batter but it had that type of lightness of texture to it. The fish was silky soft, flaked wonderfully and was also incredibly fresh. I ordered the twins a kid’s portion each. Mini D1 who had at this point not eaten for well over a week due to sickness, wolfed down her portion. Major hit. This was the first time I’d let the kids eat fish without carefully flaking it to check for bones. But I was completely reassured that Wolfies fillet the fish so well no customer has found one.
If you’re in the Brighton / Hove area, I thoroughly recommend you check out Wolfies. And if you’re not in the area, it’s just down from Hove train station where there is also a large car park. Dave is going to be opening a second venue a few doors along with lots of gluten free options, more seats and where you can enjoy the gluten free fish and chips.
Dave and his family were so friendly to us, I was extremely pleased we’d very randomly stumbled across the wonderful gluten free fish and chips at Wolfies.
What you need to know – Gluten Free Fish and Chips at Wolfies of Hove
Would I go back? Yes, would love to try out the new venue when it’s open
Location: 90 Goldstone Villas, Hove BN3 3RU
Cost: £20 for two adult potions of cod and chips plus two children’s portions. Truly excellent value.
More places to enjoy coeliac-safe gluten free fish and chips in the UK:
- Gluten Free Fish and Chips at The Old Harbour, Weymouth, Dorset
- Gluten Free Fish and Chips at The Happy Haddock, Shanklin, Isle of Wight
- Gluten Free Fish and Chips at The Boathouse, Seaview, Isle of Wight
- Gluten Free Fish and Chips at Shakey Shakey, Herne Bay, Kent
- Gluten Free Fish and Chips at The Seine Rigger, Surrey
- Gluten Free Fish and Chips at Rick Stein’s in Padstow, Cornwall
Fabulous find!!! Sounds like a great place. Bit far for us though!
It’s a real gem. Worth remembering if you’re ever in the Brighton area.
Sounds amazing! I don’t understand why more fish and chip shops aren’t monetising for such a lucrative gluten-free market! They’re missing out on some serious money.
Lizzy from Nomad Notebook
Yes, I agree I find it surprising too. Perhaps the steps required to ensure there is no cross contamination is too much for some fish and chip shops to bother with. Although there are ways around it, as Wolfies have clearly shown.
Most Coeliac / gluten free people I know (including me!) will travel quite a considerable distance for the chance of gluten free fish and chips. The market is definitely there!