Nicholson's UK Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, Nicholson's UK cooks with: rapeseed (vegetable) oil in the fryers, the Mitchells & Butlers estate standard; chunky chips, skin-on fries, hand-battered haddock, scampi, halloumi fries, calamari and the garlic chicken schnitzel all come out of the same rapeseed fryers, and the mayonnaise, tartare sauce and basil pesto are rapeseed-oil emulsions, so the fried plates plus the mayo-dressed sandwiches carry nearly all of the PUFA; pies, mash, gravy and the chargrilled steak are butter/beef-fat led and score much lower. Across the 40 menu items we analyzed, it averages 8.4g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of D (Very High Risk).
Safest Orders at Nicholson's UK
Learn this once: a salad with grilled protein and the dressing left off is nearly always the lowest seed oil order anywhere. So the list below sticks to real meals, salads included, never just a water.
Cleanest full order: Honey Glazed British Pork Sausages + Grilled Fillet of Salmon + Americano, 10.0g total
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| House Salad | 0.0g |
| Sticky Toffee Pudding | 3.0g |
| Honey Glazed British Pork Sausages | 4.0g |
| Zesty Lemon Tart | 4.0g |
| Scotch Egg | 5.0g |
What to Avoid at Nicholson's UK
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Ocean Fish & Chips | 20.0g |
| Garlic Chicken Schnitzel | 18.0g |
| Nicholson's Fish & Chips | 16.0g |
| The Nicholson's Burger | 16.0g |
| Buttermilk Chicken Burger | 16.0g |
Frequently asked
Does Nicholson's UK use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, Nicholson's UK cooks with: rapeseed (vegetable) oil in the fryers, the Mitchells & Butlers estate standard; chunky chips, skin-on fries, hand-battered haddock, scampi, halloumi fries, calamari and the garlic chicken schnitzel all come out of the same rapeseed fryers, and the mayonnaise, tartare sauce and basil pesto are rapeseed-oil emulsions, so the fried plates plus the mayo-dressed sandwiches carry nearly all of the PUFA; pies, mash, gravy and the chargrilled steak are butter/beef-fat led and score much lower. Across the 40 menu items we analyzed, it averages 8.4g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of D (Very High Risk).
What oil does Nicholson's UK cook with?
Our research indicates: rapeseed (vegetable) oil in the fryers, the Mitchells & Butlers estate standard; chunky chips, skin-on fries, hand-battered haddock, scampi, halloumi fries, calamari and the garlic chicken schnitzel all come out of the same rapeseed fryers, and the mayonnaise, tartare sauce and basil pesto are rapeseed-oil emulsions, so the fried plates plus the mayo-dressed sandwiches carry nearly all of the PUFA; pies, mash, gravy and the chargrilled steak are butter/beef-fat led and score much lower. Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does Nicholson's UK use beef tallow?
No. Our research indicates Nicholson's UK cooks with rapeseed (vegetable) oil in the fryers, the Mitchells & Butlers estate standard; chunky chips, skin-on fries, hand-battered haddock, scampi, halloumi fries, calamari and the garlic chicken schnitzel all come out of the same rapeseed fryers, and the mayonnaise, tartare sauce and basil pesto are rapeseed-oil emulsions, so the fried plates plus the mayo-dressed sandwiches carry nearly all of the PUFA; pies, mash, gravy and the chargrilled steak are butter/beef-fat led and score much lower, not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.
Is Nicholson's UK seed oil free?
Largely yes. Our research indicates Nicholson's UK cooks with rapeseed (vegetable) oil in the fryers, the Mitchells & Butlers estate standard; chunky chips, skin-on fries, hand-battered haddock, scampi, halloumi fries, calamari and the garlic chicken schnitzel all come out of the same rapeseed fryers, and the mayonnaise, tartare sauce and basil pesto are rapeseed-oil emulsions, so the fried plates plus the mayo-dressed sandwiches carry nearly all of the PUFA; pies, mash, gravy and the chargrilled steak are butter/beef-fat led and score much lower, which is not an industrial seed oil. Preparation can vary by location.
What is the safest thing to order at Nicholson's UK?
House Salad is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Nicholson's UK, at an estimated 0.0g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at Nicholson's UK?
Ocean Fish & Chips is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at Nicholson's UK, at an estimated 20.0g PUFA. Fried items and creamy, mayo-based sauces are usually the heaviest.
What are seed oils?
Seed oils — canola, soybean, sunflower, corn, and similar vegetable oils — are extracted from seeds using high heat and chemical solvents. They are very high in polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), which are unstable at cooking temperatures and can oxidize easily. Many health-conscious eaters choose to minimize seed oils and prefer foods cooked in beef tallow, butter, coconut oil, or olive oil instead. This page shows estimated PUFA grams per menu item to help you make more informed choices. These are estimates — actual values vary by preparation and location. Curious why people avoid them? Read the evidence.
Compare other chains
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See where Nicholson's UK lands on the full Seed Oil Index, or check which chains cook in real fats on Tallow Watch. Wondering about a specific dish instead? The Is It Seed Oil food guide answers it for 200+ everyday foods, and the distributor oils page covers what independent restaurants fry in.