“One of Scotland’s most unique fish and chip restaurants.”
A one-of-a-kind ‘sail-thru’ fish and chip shop in Scotland has been crowned among the top “hidden gems” in the UK. The waterside eatery, which has recently gone viral on social media, was named one of the best food destinations that can be reached via boat or paddle board.
On Friday, August 14, Paddle UK shared a list of the UK’s best hidden pubs and coffee shops that can be accessed on a paddle board. According to the experts, ‘paddle boarding to the pub’ has exploded in popularity in recent months. Various viral social media videos have inspired people to swap busy roads for rivers and canals.
One of the locations that was named as part of Paddle UK’s roundup of the best “hidden gems” you can reach by paddle board is McMonagles Fish and Chips in Clydebank. The fish and chip shop and tourist attraction is housed within a boat that is located in the Fourth and Clyde Canal.
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The restaurant and takeaway is unique in that customers can pick up their order by boat from its window that faces the water. This has earned McMonagles Fish and Chips a significant following on social media, with one recent video on Instagram receiving more than 530,000 views.
McMonagles Fish and Chips was recently named as the Daily Record’s Chippy of the Week, and was praised for being a top destination for both formal dining and a casual meals. In addition to its sail-thru window, it has an indoor eating space in its upstairs and casual seating outside.
Paddle UK described McMonagles Fish and Chips as one of Scotland’s “most unique fish and chip restaurants” and praised its “freshly cooked fish and chips”. The eatery sources high-quality and sustainably caught fish, and its chips are hand-cut every day and fried until golden and crispy.
A spokesperson for Paddle UK stated: “One of Scotland’s most unique fish and chip restaurants is going viral on social media, with an Instagram reel gaining over 530k views. Many are feeling inspired to partake in watersports with the incentive of fish and chips along their route, with users commenting: ‘Time to dust off my kayak. That’s epic!’
“McMonagles is located on the Forth and Clyde Canal in Clydebank. Paddlers can travel along the canal and can pull up outside the window for freshly cooked fish and chips. Known as the world’s first ‘Sail-Thru’ restaurant, it’s become a popular stop for canal users.”
Elsewhere, another destination that was named one of the top hidden gems in the UK for paddle boarders is The Hidden Tap in Hampshire. The riverside brewery taproom allows paddlers to pull a bell rope from the water’s edge and place their order, before drinks are lowered down using a wooden pulley system.
Head of Recreation at Paddle UK Rich Ramsdale commented: “Paddle boarding is more than just exercise. Whether it’s paddleboarding with friends, or trying out SUP yoga paddling gives people the chance to slow down, switch off and reconnect with nature. It’s great that we’re seeing more people explore their local waterways, discover independent cafes and pubs, and experience places they simply wouldn’t see from the road.”
The full list of the best hidden pubs and coffee shops in the UK that can be reached via paddle board can be found below.
The hidden UK gems you can access by paddle board
- The Hidden Tap, Hampshire
- Riverbank Coffee, Manchester
- McMonagles Fish and Chips, Clydebank
- The Anglers, London
- The Wateredge Inn, Ambleside
- Elsie’s Riverside Coffee Shop, Newcastle
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