Not the usual place for little Oliver to sample a light bite but every now and again one likes to venture beyond the city limits and check out somewhere on the periphery of Leeds.
Harry Ramsden's has always been a big brand, but recently it's gained a reputation for becoming a bit too chainy, detracting from its homegrown ancestry here in Yorkshire.
* Click here for latest news in Guiseley.This ancestry is evident from the minute you walk through the door because the restaurant is a rather lavish affair with chandeliers, high ceilings and ornate stained glass windows.
* Click here to become a fan of Guiseley Today on Facebook.It's a huge slice of Edwardian glitz and a complete surprise – after all, their forte is humble fish and chips.
* Click here to sign up to free news and sport alerts from Guiseley Today. We went for the good old £9 haddock, chips and mushy peas and (given the fact that they have got that 'chainy' reputation) they were wonderful, not at all a conveyer belt affair whacked on a plate.
The batter on the fish was just the right thickness and not overly greasy, the haddock itself was delicious as were the chips. The only complaint was that the portions were a tad small.
It wasn't the biggest piece of fish and it certainly wasn't what you'd equate to a bagful of chips, just a serving.
Which is something to consider when weighing up the option of spending £4-5 at your local chippy rather than trying out Harry Ramsden's.
It all depends on what floats your boat. If you like the sparkling surroundings and if you like your fish and chips but don't want to have to be rolled out the door then you'll love it.
On the other hand if you want a buzzing atmosphere with effervescent staff (our young waitresses were efficient but not overly enthusiastic) then this probably isn't the place for you.
Somehow you want Harry Ramsden's to be an experience on a par with visiting Betty's tea shops, with a warm, personal greeting and some sense of anticipation. That's just not the case here.
With a bottle of beer and a cup of tea our bill came to just over £21 which is pretty good value for a restaurant but not exactly the kind of budget dining fish and chips normally represents.
Rating: 3/5
