Short answer: The best-reviewed chippy in Launceston is Francine's on Race Hill (4.6 from 548 Google reviews, hygiene rating 5). The Black Pearl and the Codfather are on St Thomas Road, and the Codfather keeps short days. All are takeaways with no seating, so check opening days. For a table, try the Springer Spaniel at Treburley or the Eliot Arms at Tregadillett.
Launceston is built on a hill with a castle on top, and its chip shops are scattered down the slopes rather than gathered on one street. Two sit on St Thomas Road, on the way down towards the old railway, and one is on Race Hill by the town centre. This guide to the best fish and chips in Launceston is honest about a simple fact: these are small local takeaways, and two of the three have modest review counts, so treat the ratings as a guide, not a guarantee.
The best-reviewed of the three is Francine's at 2 Race Hill, rated 4.6 from 548 Google reviews, which is a healthy sample for a town this size. It is a small takeaway and sandwich shop, not a sit-down place. The Food Standards Agency lists a food hygiene rating of 5, last inspected on 16 April 2026, which is the best evidence that it is trading and clean. Reviewers mention fish cooked to order, cod bites and chicken chunks, and one said the chips stayed warm during a 15-minute drive. Opinion is not unanimous: one reviewer found the batter greasy on a visit, another thought the service was brisk rather than chatty. That mix is normal for a busy chippy, but it is a reminder that quality can vary from one night to the next.
The Black Pearl is a takeaway at 58 St Thomas Road, rated 4.3 from 45 Google reviews. Several reviewers praise light, non-greasy batter and proper chip-shop chips, and one mentions homemade tartare sauce. Reviewers also mention smash burgers and a delivery service. There is no indoor seating, but one reviewer noted a couple of picnic tables outside and limited parking. With only 45 reviews behind the rating it is a smaller sample than Francine's, so I would call it a promising second choice rather than a sure thing.
The Codfather, near the Black Pearl, rates 4.5 from 91 Google reviews, but the picture is mixed. Some reviewers praise large portions, a lovely curry sauce and friendly staff, while one describes a poor experience with the fish and tells readers to walk five more minutes to the other chippy. It keeps short days. A listing on Wanderlog gives Thursday to Saturday only, with lunch and early evening sittings, so check it is open before you walk down. If you want the safest bet on any given night, Francine's has far more reviews behind it.
Pick by where you are and what day it is. If you are in the centre or heading to the castle, Francine's on Race Hill is the closest and the most reviewed. If you are staying down towards St Thomas Road, the Black Pearl and the Codfather are a short walk apart, so you can look at both and choose. Because the Codfather keeps a shorter week, phone ahead if it is your first choice. Opening days and hours change, and we would rather you ring than make the walk for a closed shutter, so check opening times before you go.
All three are takeaways, so you are choosing a paper parcel rather than a table. That is fine on a dry day and awkward on a wet one, which is when the pub options below make more sense.
If you want plates and cutlery, leave the chippies and head for a pub. Neither of these is in the town centre, so you will want a car or a taxi.
The Springer Spaniel at Treburley, a short drive south of Launceston, is rated 4.6 from 1,032 Google reviews. Wanderlog lists it open every day from noon, and one reviewer called the mini fish and chips some of the best they had eaten, with crispy breading and tender fish. The same reviewer liked the board games for children. Other reviewers warn of two-hour table slots and slow kitchen times on busy days, so book ahead and allow time.
Eliot Arms at Tregadillett, on the A30 side of town, is rated 4.7 from 1,126 Google reviews. CAMRA describes a 14th-century pub with open beams, slate floors and several small rooms, and lists lunchtime and evening meals plus a separate dining area. One recent reviewer ordered cod and chips, but check the current menu, as pub menus change. For more of that style of meal, see our guide to country pubs near Launceston.
The obvious answer is the castle. English Heritage describes the grounds of Launceston Castle as an ideal spot for picnics. Its page lists the castle as open Wednesday to Sunday and bank holidays, 10am to 4pm, so check winter days before you plan a daylight chip supper there. The castle sits right in the middle of town, a short climb from Race Hill, and you can see a long way from the top of the keep. After dark, the picnic tables outside the Black Pearl or the car are your better bet. Our guide to dogs at Launceston Castle explains the rules if you are bringing a dog to the grass.
Parking in Launceston depends on the end of town. The St Thomas Road takeaways are on a busy road and a reviewer of the Black Pearl noted limited parking, while Race Hill is close to the main town car parks. The castle itself has no car park, as our Launceston parking guide explains. A lot of people park once and walk, because the town centre is compact even though it is steep.
Reviews mention sausages, onion rings, curry sauce, chicken and burgers at the chip shops, and the Black Pearl is praised for its smash burgers. None of the three takeaways publishes gluten-free information that we can point to, so ask when you order if it matters. If you are avoiding batter, a pub meal is a safer choice. Pasty fans can read about where to get the best pasty in Launceston, and the best Sunday roast in Launceston guide covers a dinner that is better served at a table.
Honestly, no. Launceston's chips are good, local and likely cheaper than the harbour towns, but the coast is where Cornwall's most famous fish and chips are. Treat a chippy tea as part of a day that also takes in the castle and the town's museums. Our Launceston day out for £50 or less shows how to build that day, and the Launceston town page lists everything else.
Francine's on Race Hill has the most Google reviews (548) and a 4.6 rating, plus a food hygiene rating of 5 from April 2026, so it is the safest choice. The Black Pearl and Codfather are on St Thomas Road.
Mostly no. Francine's and the St Thomas Road takeaways are takeaway only, though one reviewer noted a couple of picnic tables outside the Black Pearl. For a table, try a country pub such as the Springer Spaniel or the Eliot Arms.
No. A Wanderlog listing shows it open Thursday to Saturday only, so check before you walk down.
English Heritage describes the castle grounds as an ideal spot for picnics, but its page lists opening as Wednesday to Sunday and bank holidays, 10am to 4pm, so check winter days first.
The Springer Spaniel at Treburley has a mini fish and chips that a reviewer praised, and the Eliot Arms at Tregadillett serves lunch and evening meals. Both are a short drive from town, so check the menu and book.
Times, prices and dates are the businesses' and organisers' to change, so check before you travel. Spotted something we've got wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.
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