Health, Sustainability, Quality & Education: The Pillars of our Business

Written By Aaron Norton

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.

Health: A Commitment to Well-being

Supporting our team’s health

We believe that a healthy team is the foundation of a successful business. Our employees enjoy private healthcare benefits and access to a range of support programmes that promote mental and physical well-being. By prioritising health, we create a working environment where our team can thrive and offer the best possible service to our guests.

Promoting nutritional choices

Fish and shellfish are a nutrient-rich source of protein, essential vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids, making it an excellent component of a healthy, balanced diet and lifestyle. Echoing the NHS recommendation to consume at least 2 portions fish per week, we advocate for seafood as a healthy dietary choice, ensuring that our guests have access to nutritious, high-quality meals. This year, we joined with Seafish, the UK’s public body for supporting the UK seafood sector, on their campaign Seafood for Life, promoting the seafood industry and the health-boosting, life-enhancing benefits of eating fish and seafood. And our commitment to health means continually monitoring the quality and condition of our frying medium, ensuring that everything we fry is free from carcinogenic acrylamide, that it is not only delicious but truly safe and nutritious to eat.

Recognised health accreditations

Our dedication to health and nutrition has been recognised with several prestigious awards and accreditations, including:

  • The Catey Award for ‘Health & Nutrition’ (The Caterer, 2019)

  • The UK’s Healthy Eating Award (National Fish & Chip Awards, 2018)

  • Accreditation with MenuCal and CalorieWise

By maintaining these high standards, we continue to offer delicious, health-conscious dining options that cater to a wide range of dietary needs.

Fish City was the first business to take the Sustainable Fish Cities Northern Ireland pledge, committing to sourcing all seafood produce responsibly and audited against the Marine Conservation Society’s Good Fish Guide.

Sustainability: Protecting Our Oceans

Leading the way in sustainable seafood

Sustainability is at the core of our business. We were the first Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified restaurant in Northern Ireland and on the island of Ireland, setting a precedent for responsible sourcing. Our commitment to seafood sustainability is further reinforced by our participation in Sustainable Fish Cities NI, a movement led by Ulster Wildlife and Nourish NI to protect our oceans.

Environmental leadership and recognition

Our efforts in sustainability have earned us multiple accolades, including:

Through these initiatives, we ensure that every meal served in our restaurant contributes to the well-being of our planet.

The NFFF Quality Accreditation is the gold standard for the nation’s fish and chip industry and reflects the quality of the cooked product, high standards of hygiene and cleanliness, staff training and competence, shop presentation, and sales skills.

Quality: Elevating the Dining Experience

Award-winning standards

As the UK’s Fish & Chip Restaurant of the Year (National Fish and Chip Awards, 2023), we hold ourselves to the very highest standards of quality. We commit each year to defending and retaining our National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) Quality Accreditation, the fish and chip industry’s trustmark for quality. The Quality Accreditation is awarded after thorough inspection by an NFFF Approved Assessor who assesses the shop’s presentation, hygiene and cleanliness, staff training, equipment, frying and sales skills and most importantly the quality of the cooked product. For four consecutive years, we have been recognised by industry publication Fry Magazine as among the UK’s 10 Best Restaurants, reflecting our enduring commitment to excellence. Our focus on consistently delivering outstanding food, drink, and hospitality ensures that every guest enjoys a memorable dining experience.

Exceptional service and hospitality

Our Front of House team is trained to provide warm, welcoming service and provide our guests with exceptional dining experiences. From group training with Belfast Metropolitan College and World Host Customer Service Training, we invest in our team’s professional development, ensuring our staff members attain guest service professional certifications, leverage best practices, hone their hospitality expertise, and reflect their dedication to excellence in guest service.

Unique dining experiences

We are proud to be Northern Ireland’s first fully licensed fish & chip restaurant, offering premium seafood dining experiences in the heart of Belfast city centre. Whether dining al fresco on our heated and sheltered Terrace, rustic ground-floor Main Deck, charming Fisherman’s Hut or sophisticated Fisherman’s Cabin, our guests have a range of comfortable, ambient dining rooms to enjoy. Whether dining indoors or outdoors, our guests can expect a premium seafood experience unlike any other.

Our Fish City Kids Club is an educational initiative offered free to primary seven schoolchildren in the local area to visit our local fish market and issues surrounding seafood sustainability.

Education: Inspiring Knowledge & Awareness

Staff training and development

Education is integral to our ethos. We provide ongoing training and career development opportunities for our team through partnerships with Hospitality Ulster, the National Federation of Fish Friers, and the Belfast Met. Additionally, we take educational field trips that offer valuable insights into our suppliers, the global seafood industry, and cutting edge sustainability practices. Previous field trips have been to Norway and Iceland to learn about globally leading sustainable fishing practices and to Japan to showcase our signature dish.

Engaging the community

Beyond our team, we strive to educate the public about seafood sustainability. Our free educational Kids Club introduces school children to our locally landed seafood and fishmongers at St George’s Fish Market and share the importance of responsible fishing practices. With our Kids Club, we hope to inspire the next generation of environmentally conscious consumers, ocean heroes, marine scientists, hospitality professionals in protecting one of our planet’s greatest resources.

Other community work we do includes donating hot meals for Team HAVEN, a voluntary community organisation that provides for the homeless, vulnerable and those experiencing food insecurity and food poverty in our local area. We also participate in the All Ireland Pollinator Plan, providing pollinators with food and shelter year-round through our Terrace planting and biodiversity garden, and volunteering for Ulster Wildlife at Belfast Harbour Oyster Nursery in their native oyster restoration project.

Our Mission & Vision

Our Mission

Our mission is to deliver a memorable dining experience that combines high-quality food with outstanding service. We strive to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere where guests can enjoy delicious meals while promoting sustainable fishing practices and environmental stewardship.

Our Vision

Our vision is to be recognised as the premier Fish & Chip Restaurant in Ireland, known for our commitment to sustainable sourcing, exceptional customer service, and community engagement. We aim to be a trusted and sought-after destination for seafood lovers, offering a diverse menu that celebrates the best of responsibly sourced food.

Conclusion

Our core values—Health, Sustainability, Quality, and Education—are the foundation of everything we do. From ensuring the well-being of our team and guests to protecting the environment and delivering exceptional culinary experiences, we are dedicated to upholding these principles. As an award-winning seafood restaurant and a staple in Belfast’s thriving food scene, we take immense pride in leading by example, setting the standard for excellence in the hospitality and seafood industries.

Aaron Norton
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