One thing as a Coeliac I am not scared of, is eating out. I know it intimidates a lot of people but as long as you speak to the places and understand their procedures then eating out isn't a huge issue - once you find the places that cater. There will always been some places that cater better than others but it doesn't stop me trying new places even if I find somewhere that isn't the best at catering - you can't tar everywhere with the same brush.
Most places I visited in 2023 are Northern so there is a fair bit round the north west where I am based but there is also some Yorkshire too from our trip there in December, and also from down south when we visited Bristol and Dorset. Anglesey and Conwy in Wales also make an appearance as they are places we visit frequently.
If you are looking for places to eat why not check out my places to eat guide, where all the places are sent in by fellow coeliacs or the eateries themselves.
Milton Chippy Stoke
Chip shop with the biggest gluten free menu I have ever seen. The owners son is Coeliac so they have a fantastic understanding everything is cooked/prepped separate. Food is lovely too!
Wagamama - Stoke (chain)
Over the years I have been to a few of the Wagamama branches, they are a great Asian fusion chain. The gluten free menu is limited but the staff are always great, Stoke was no exception, manager took the order and one chef is in control of allergen orders. Always great food.
Heath House Farm - Blythe Bridge
Lovely little farm shop and cafe, limited options but what they have is lovely, always have gluten free cakes and can do afternoon teas with 24 hours notice.
White Hart Cafe - Leek
Fabulous cafe in Leek with a large gluten free menu which even included Staffordshire oatcakes - quite the rarity to get gluten free. They do get very busy so worth booking if you can, absolutely lovely place for gluten free.
Mowgli - Liverpool (chain)
The Mowgli chain have a fab gluten free menu and the food is absolutely stunning. Manager takes orders and the food comes out with a stick in to signal it is a gluten free dish. I have visited twice this year and both times the food has been stunning. Limited desserts but their brownie is amazing (usually i avoid brownie as it always seems to be the dessert option)
Cosy Club - Liverpool (chain)
The Cosy Club chain is part of The Lounges group, both are amazing for gluten free. Cosy Club is slightly more "classy" than The Lounges but the food is excellent in both chains, the staff are all trained on allergens and ask as you arrive about Coeliac.
Xanders - Southport
Lovely chippy in Southport which offers a range of gluten free all cooked in separate fryers. Not my favourite chippy but it was still nice.
Bella Italia - Blackpool
I love Bella Italia and it is a shame so many of them have closed down. Gluten free is now marked on the normal menu and they also give you a tablet to double check allergens. Range of pizza and pasta available and the food is always delicious and comes with allergy markers in.
Papas - Blackpool (chain)
There are a few Papas chip shops around but I have only eaten at the Blackpool branch, there is sometimes a long wait but the food when we went was delicious, only gluten free fish and chips or halloumi available which is fried but also do fish pies which are amazing. Gluten free fish and chips are cooked in separate fryers (however check this fact when you go, I've heard a report of two recently that this isn't the case and people have seen from the takeaway side that they use the same fryer and utensils....however on both my visits I was told that gluten free was cooked separate, those visits were earlier in 2023 though so it could have changed since then)
Nandos - Blackpool (chain)
Nandos is a go to for us, a chain we go to quite frequently all over the place. Options are limited as burgers and wraps are out, but all the normal chicken dishes and most of the sides including chips are safe. You need to advise when ordering you are Coeliac and manager should take the order and oversee the preparation.
The Bank - Blackpool
Almost all the menu here is gluten free, it's just a shame they don't do more desserts. Everything is cooked fresh so most things are easily adapted. Staff are lovely and the food great too.
Hard Rock Cafe - Manchester
I have eaten at the London branch previously and we decided to try the Manchester one on a visit this year. Never been somewhere so attentive, manager came and explained procedures and that everyone was treated as Coeliac who asked for the GF menu. Even my ice for my water was brought fresh from the back to make sure it wasn't contaminated at the bar. Coeliac UK accredited too.
Off The Wheaten Track - Altrincham
If you visit anywhere this year, make sure it is Off The Wheaten Track, 100% gluten free deli in Altrincham. Absolutely lovely couple who run it, one of which is Coeliac, and they offer loads of different options to eat in and take out. I went for the Christmas Dinner there which was amazing and the cherry pie...to die for!
Pho - Manchester (chain)
I have been Pho before, last time was in Liverpool. They are part of a chain where 99% of the menu is gluten free as standard and they are Coeliac UK accredited. Only thing on the menu not gluten free is the spring rolls and hoisin sauce.
Swan Lake Chinese - Haslington/Crewe
If you love a Chinese then you have to try here if you are local, gluten free is marked on the menu and there are loads of options, they are well aware of contamination and prep separate.
Hayhusrt Arms Brunning and Price - Middlewich (chain)
Brunning and Price chain are amazing for gluten free, this is the first Brunning and Price pub I have eaten at and will certainly be back, they are very clued up and Coeliac UK accredited too. Fab menu and lovely food - I had a sunday lunch which was amazing.
Rising Sun Chef and Brewer - Crewe (chain)
Not the best when it comes to gluten free but ok, the menu is a bit limited but it does at least mention fried products are a no go due to shared fryers. Staff knowledge is a bit hit and miss (I don't know if this applies to all Chef and Brewer pubs) but I did manage to get a decent meal and the dessert was divine.
Marmalade - Chester
An absolute must visit in Chester. Everything can be done gluten free and they are super aware of contamination. Even all the cakes are done gluten free as standard, only sweet option not gluten free are the scones.
Courtyard Cafe - Knutsford
A lovely little hidden gem in a courtyard of Knutsford. So many gluten free options and they really understand about cross contamination. Fabulous little place to visit.
Hickory's Smokehouse - Chester and Crewe (small chain)
Hickorys Smokehouse is a smaller chain branch and definitely worth a visit, I have been Chester and Crewe branches this year but also been Southport in the past. They have an amazing gluten free menu, the staff are always super aware of allergies and their gluten free choc fudge cake is amazing!
Anderton Boat Lift - Northwich
Not the best for options, they do have jacket potatoes and a few other options, ok in a pinch, staff knowledge is hit and miss depending who you speak too. They do a few packed cake options if you just want tea and cake.
Monks Haven - Whitby
Great little cafe with loads of gluten free options, most staff members are very knowledgeable but odd ones are a little less well versed. Had a few lovely lunches here while in Whitby though.
Quayside - Whitby
Quayside chippy do lots of gluten free options on their menu from fish and chips to scampi on onion rings. I wasn't as impressed here as last time I visited a few years ago, purely because the chips were frozen ones not proper chippy chips (and they were the kind you could tell easily were frozen) but it was ok, that was just a let down for the cost.
Magpies - Whitby
Love Magpies, it is just a shame that they only do gluten free fish and chips. They are available both eat in and take out, the takeaway rings up to the cafe for them as the separate fryer is up there. Best fish and chips in Whitby though, well worth the wait.
Dutch Pancake House - York
Very busy little pancake house which has an amazing gluten free menu, we were lucky to pop in when there was a free table but generally you are best booking. Almost all pancake options can be done gluten free and they use separate frying pans and utensils
Cosy Club - York (chain)
Like Liverpool the York branch of Cosy Club is fab, we went for breakfast here and the menu is huge for breakfasts. Probably one of the best gluten free breakfasts I have had.
Wildwood - York (chain)
On a similar line to Bella Italia, Wildwood are a chain restaurant who do a selection of gluten free pizza and pasta. At this branch I had pizza which was lovely, a nice base for once, like a lot of places the let down was desserts.
Wildwood - Nottingham (chain)
Another Wildwood branch, here I had carbonara which was the best gluten free carbonara I have had in a restaurant, the gluten free garlic bread was also lovely. They can also do chips gluten free, they oven bake gluten free ones though as the fryers are shared.
Bills - Nottingham (chain)
Bills is a great chain with a menu that changes frequently, I do find the gluten free menu has limited options though. The food at this branch and other ones I have been in the past have always been lovely though. Breakfasts are the best part as they do gluten free pancakes (had them a few times in London!)
The Lobster Pot - Portland
This has been a favourite of mine for many years, even before Coeliac. When I was diagnosed 10 years ago I was overjoyed to still be able to have scones here, and they are still the best scones ever. They have a lovely little gluten free menu and the food is lovely.
Old School House - Abbotsbury
All the menu is available gluten free, when I went they told me gluten free was prepped separate but heard others say they use shared toasters...so I would question well if you go. I was fine after my scones but if they are shared toasters I would avoid toasties and check procedures for making sandwiches.
Secret Garden Cafe - Weymouth
Lovely cafe in Weymouth, lots of options and they do the most amazing waffles, we went twice for them. They use a separate gluten free pan for them and most toppings can be gluten free and they can even do vegan gluten free.
Fish & Fritz - Weymouth
Great chip shop with lots of gluten free choices for eat in and take out, they do fish and chips, fishcakes, sausages plus other options all cooked separate. They have sadly been closed since October 2023 due to a fire and as of writing this in Jan 2024 they are still not back open but hopefully they will be in the coming months.
Nandos - Bristol (chain)
As mentioned before Nandos is a go to for us, tell the manager so they can put procedures in place and stay away from burgers and wraps and you are good.
Porto Lounge - Bristol (chain)
I love The Lounges branches, there are over 200 country wide and still growing. They have a super extensive gluten free menu at all branches and are well aware of coeliac, manager will take order and oversee prep.
Front Parlour - Sunderland
This was a stunning little find when visiting a friend, they had the best gluten free cakes and nothing was too much trouble, they even have a separate gluten free kitchen!
Leon - Leeds Skelton Lake Services (chain)
Leon is great for some fast food on the go, there are loads of branches around these days, I remember them being in London only but slowly they are expanding outwards. This year I only called on a services branch on the M1 (Skelton Lake) but like all branches most of their hot boxes are naturally gluten free as are the waffle fries, chicken nuggets and many of the breakfasts. Staff are usually really good at the branches too.
Finneys Golden Fry - Benllech
One of the best chip shops on the island, they do a superb range of gluten free options (all batter is gluten free as standard) from fish and chips to scampi, sausages and all the sides. Plus they buy in cheesecakes which are all gluten free in individual portions so you have a dessert option too. Take away only is the only downfall.
South Stack Lighthouse - Holyhead
Limited choice but you can get a sandwich or jacket potato gluten free, in the past they used to have a gluten free cake but this seems to have changed to just a prepacked boring brownie.
Beaus - Beaumaris
Beaus is a nice little cafe that can do gluten free sandwiches, cakes and some other options, lovely but small cafe, always a nice place to eat at though
Catch 22 - Valley
Most of the menu at Catch 22 can be done gluten free from burgers to curries and so many desserts. Everything is done fresh so can be adapted to suit and the staff are super knowledgeable, on my visit this year I was advised not to have chips with my burger even though it isn't a shared fryer. Purely because they prep bread close by the fryer and are weary crumbs may have got in.
Barnacles - Llandudno
One that is spoke about frequently and it is definitely one of the best chip shops around for gluten free. They have an extensive menu to both eat in and take out, and you can even get pie which is something of a rarity. The owners niece is Coeliac so they are very understanding.
I wonder what 2024 will be like for eating out....we shall see!