Two fish and chip shops were honoured alongside retail giants including Tesco and Sainsbury’s at last night’s Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) UK Awards, recognising their outstanding commitment to championing sustainable seafood. Fish City in Belfast was named MSC UK Marketing Champion 2025, while The Scrap Box in York received the MSC UK Newcomer of the Year 2025 award at a ceremony held at the Signet Library in Edinburgh.

Belfast’s Fish City was the big foodservice winner at the Marine Stewardship Council UK Awards in Edinburgh last night, landing two of the major prizes. The seafood and fish and chip restaurant, which has been committed to sourcing and serving sustainable produce since it opened in 2013, was named MSC UK Marketing Champion 2025.

Fry Magazine sits down with Fish City’s John Lavery. The industry can’t compete with a £6 ready-made meal, says John, who believes there’s a new layer of competition facing fish and chip shops.

We are absolutely delighted to share the exciting news that Fish City has been selected as a finalist for the Sustainability Award at the Good Food Ireland® Awards 2025, in the Tourism & Hospitality Sector. This honour is especially meaningful to us because the Good Food Ireland Awards spotlight the heart of what we strive for every single day: authentic flavours, responsible sourcing, sustainable practices, and unforgettable visitor experiences. The awards span the island of Ireland and highlight the people and places driving excellence in the island of Ireland’s food culture and economies.

Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store is proud to present the British Fair 2025 from Tuesday, 19 August to Monday, 1 September 2025, offering a two-week journey through the refined traditions and vibrant culture of the United Kingdom—right here in Tokyo. This year’s fair spotlights the celebrated cultural tradition of afternoon tea. Visitors can browse over 130 British tea brands, enjoy popular scones, refreshing summer sweets, innovative iced teas, iconic fudge, Welsh cakes, and more—perfect companions to tea. A pop-up tea-room offering British-style parfaits will also be available. In the second half of the event (Part 2), you can step into “MITSU PUB”, styled like an authentic UK pub, and savour classic pub fare such as fish and chips.

On the 29th of July, Fish City owner John Lavery joined Stephen Nolan on the Nolan Show on BBC Radio to discuss the financial distress that local Northern Irish businesses are facing and some of the reasons behind the turbulence that local independents across the country are facing.

John Lavery joins Stelios to share how he built Fish City Belfast through economic crises, shifting consumer trends, and bold business pivots. From the meat trade to MSC-certified seafood, this candid chat covers resilience, reinvention, and the future of fish and chips.

Here at Fish City, we’ve always believed that doing good business means doing good for the community, the environment, and the economy. That’s why we are thrilled to share some exciting news: we have achieved Pledges 2, 3, and 5 of the Belfast Business Promise, a mark of excellence spearheaded by Belfast City Council.

Stretching out from the industrial pulse of the city to the tranquil shallows of the Irish Sea, Belfast Lough is a remarkable haven for wildlife. Whilst the city’s skyline is dominated by the Samson and Goliath cranes that speak to Belfast’s famous shipbuilding past, the lough’s waters, mudflats, and rocky shores feed and shelter a vast array of birds, plants, and marine life.

New research from finds that among SMEs benefitting from sustainability practices, two thirds (67%) of SMEs report reduced operational costs, over half are attracting new customers and a third are seeing improved customer loyalty.

John Lavery, Northern Ireland Regional Director at the National Federation of Fish Friers and owner of Fish City in Belfast, recently travelled to London to attend the launch of the Willow Review, an initiative of Small Business Britain.

Fish City owner John Lavery travelled to London to attend the launch of the Willow Review, a groundbreaking initiative that explores the commercial benefits of sustainability and how it can be scaled to support more small businesses.

Three Years, Countless Awards and One Fabulous Evening Later… When a restaurant racks up awards like some people collect houseplants during lockdown, you can't help but take notice. It's been three years since I last reviewed Fish City on Anne Street, Belfast — and in that time, they've gone from local gem to national treasure. So, naturally, I had to get back to see (and taste) what all the fuss is about.

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news from the team here at Fish City — we’ve been awarded Highly Commended in the Food & Drink Company of the Year category at the 2025 Business Eye Sustainability & ESG Awards! The prestigious black-tie event took place on Thursday, 15th May, at the beautiful Culloden Estate & Spa, bringing together over 300 business leaders, innovators, and changemakers from across Northern Ireland.

The winners of the inaugural Northern Ireland Hummingbird Awards have been revealed in a landmark celebration honouring those leading the way in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) across Northern Ireland.

At the heart of our award-winning seafood restaurant lies a set of core values that drive our every decision and action. These pillars—Health, Sustainability, Quality, and Education—define who we are and guide our approach to food, guest service, and community engagement. As the UK’s Fish & Chip Restaurant of the Year, we take immense pride in living these values, ensuring that every dish we cook and serve reflects our enduring commitment to excellence.

Belfast has quietly become one of the most sustainable cities in the world, leading the way in eco-conscious urban planning, tourism, and gastronomy. Ranked 9th in the prestigious Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index) in 2024 — higher than any other UK or Irish city — Belfast is proving that sustainability and growth can go hand-in-hand. From pioneering net-zero hotels to a thriving food scene that champions locally sourced ingredients and zero-waste practices, the city is setting new standards for responsible tourism and ethical dining.

We at Fish City are proud to have been recently featured in an article by journalist Nina Azoulay detailing her summer guide to Europe's most sustainable restaurants, published in FRI– the travel and leisure section of Denmark’s national newspaper Berlingske. In the guide, Nina explores how innovative restaurants across Europe are cooking up a delicious and sustainable future for all.

Fish City in Belfast, County Antrim has once again gained its place amongst the UK’s top fish and chip shops by achieving the prestigious NFFF Quality Accreditation sponsored by Sarsons Vinegar. The National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), the trade body that represents the nation’s fish and chip shops, runs the scheme as a way of raising standards within and enhancing the profile of the fish and chip industry.

A message from President of the National Federation of Fish Friers Andrew Crook regarding fish supply issues affecting the fish and chip industry.