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.

The UK and Ireland’s foodservice sector represents a vast and largely untapped opportunity for certified sustainable seafood, with Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) labelled products currently making up just 3.55% of all fish and seafood sold in the sector, according to a new report published today. As consumers increasingly demand responsibly sourced options, restaurants, pubs, and catering outlets are uniquely positioned to close the gap between foodservice and retail in meeting these expectations.

Today we reveal the UK’s top fish and chip operators as the winners of our much-anticipated Fry Awards are announced. The results follow months of judging in which takeaways, restaurants and mobile units were secretly assessed by mystery diners on a range of aspects such as food quality, premises cleanliness, staff expertise, value for money, ease of ordering, and social media presence. 

Industry reputation campaign Seafood for Life kicks off 2025 with a call for businesses to shout about the health benefits of fish and shellfish. As the New Year sparks a focus on healthier living, Towngate Fisheries in Yorkshire, Fish City in Belfast and Something Else Fishy in Dorset are leading the way in highlighting seafood as a nutritious choice. They hope to inspire others in hospitality to weave health-focused messaging into their customer engagement.

Award-winning restaurateurs share their winning strategies for engaging customers with the health benefits of seafood. Seafood restaurants and takeaways have an exciting opportunity to attract and engage customers by highlighting the numerous health benefits of the products they serve. That’s the message from three multi-award-winning businesses recognised for their innovative approaches to promoting the health aspects of their fish and shellfish dishes.

Three fish and chip shops are supporting a new industry campaign to encourage businesses to shout about the health benefits of eating fish and shellfish.