Why Choose North Sea Fish Restaurant

Do you use fresh or frozen fish?

Our fish is delivered fresh daily and is never frozen, with the exception of king prawns and breaded scampi, which are supplied frozen.

Every morning, before we open, a delivery arrives from Billingsgate Market, London’s historic wholesale fish market. Our cod, haddock, plaice, salmon, sea bass, skate and more are prepared the same day and cooked fresh to order.

We have operated this way since 1977. It is not a marketing claim — it is the operational reality our kitchen is built around, and it is why our fish tastes the way it does.

“Best fish and chips ever — amazingly fresh fish and unlimited chips. Nothing like it in London.”

— MichelleB, TripAdvisor

Is your food cooked to order?

Yes — every dish is cooked to order.

We do not hold fish under heat lamps. Every fillet, every piece of scampi, and every fishcake comes out of the fryer or off the grill and goes directly to your table.

We fry in groundnut oil — a deliberate choice that gives a cleaner, crisper result than cheaper alternatives. We also offer every dish grilled, or fried in egg and matzo meal on request.

That matzo-fried option is part of the great Jewish fish-frying tradition woven into the history of this dish and this city, and we are proud to offer it.

Whether you are visiting the British Museum, working nearby, or travelling through King’s Cross, we are a natural place to stop.

How long have you been open?

We opened in 1977.

London’s restaurant scene has changed beyond recognition since then. Chains have come and gone. Trends have risen and collapsed. We are still here, on the same street, doing the same thing — because we have never cut corners on the things that matter.

Our regulars have been coming back for decades. Our first-time visitors — many of them tourists from Japan, the United States, France, Italy, Germany and dozens of other countries — frequently tell us it was the best meal of their trip to London.

Do you only serve fish and chips?

No — our menu goes far beyond fish and chips.

Our cod and haddock are at the heart of the menu, but over nearly five decades we have also built a menu that includes Cornish hand-dived scallops, grilled octopus, whole Dover sole, king prawn tempura, and our signature Fisherman’s Catch — a grilled sharing plate for two featuring cod, salmon, sea bass, king prawns, scallops, calamari, whitebait and sardines on samphire.

All fish mains are served with unlimited chips — just ask for more.

Where are you located?

We are at 7–8 Leigh Street, Bloomsbury, WC1H 9EW.

We are well placed for visitors and locals alike, close to the British Museum, Russell Square, King’s Cross and Euston, with easy access from across central London.

• 10 minutes’ walk from the British Museum
• Around 5 minutes from Russell Square tube
• King’s Cross and Euston within walking distance
• Easy to reach from every part of London

Do you host groups, celebrations or private dining?

Yes — our 80-seat dining room can accommodate group bookings of up to 40 guests, including birthdays, anniversaries, corporate lunches, tour groups and family gatherings.

Weekend group bookings fill quickly, so please contact us as early as possible to secure your date.

Have you received any awards or recognition?

Yes — we hold the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award 2025, placing us in the Top 10% of restaurants worldwide.

We are independently owned and family-run, and we have never compromised on quality in nearly fifty years of trading.