Your local Fish and chips shop

Daisy Bennyboots · 10-01-2008, 22:58

Do you love going to the chippy? If so what do you buy?

Do they sell anything unusual or regional?

What 'extras' do they sell like sauces or pickled egg?

10-01-2008, 23:04

No, mine is quite poor. I think generally over the years fish and chips have long had their day as being the take-away of choice. Even as a kid in the 80's/90's the prospect of a fish and chip take-away meal didn't excite me as much as it seemed to my older relatives who still to this day have a great fondess for it. For me it's always been oddly smelling fish with badly cut, over cooked, over priced chips in some old tatty white paper.

alco_vixen · 10-01-2008, 23:04

dont go to fish shop very much as there isnt a decent one where i live

stud u like · 10-01-2008, 23:10

The decent one is two miles away,so I don't go to it very often.

minimalistmatt · 10-01-2008, 23:10

We have a local one which is very good, they've won prizes etc.

I don't go very often, maybe not for 3 months - then every other day for a week. But my new years resolution is to stay off it for a bit now.

I don't go for the extras just fish and chips. It's sooooo lovely, and I passed there tonight - but my willpower held out even though I was thinking how nice it would be to pop in.

What puts me off is all fast food places use hydrogenated fat don't they ?

Why does it taste so good though?

No Chance · 10-01-2008, 23:29

My local one is okay, but not as good as it was. The last couple of times I've been, quite a few of the chips were hard in the middle.

I usually have chips (salt, no vinegar) and curry sauce when I go. I have them wrapped then take them home; I'm a very fussy eater and I can't pour the sauce over the chips. I leave the sauce in the pot and dip the chips in it.

diablo · 10-01-2008, 23:39

My nearest one, about 150 yards away, was very good for many years - but is now bad.

There aren't many traditional ones left and very few good ones.

I've been told there is a good one about a mile away. May try it tomorrow.

p.s. I like crunchy batter on the fish and soggy chips.

Daisy Bennyboots · 10-01-2008, 23:50

Our local does the most lovely, thick, fresh juicy haddock in golden batter. Best eating at 7pm on Friday when the queue is 10 people long and the fish is boiling hot and fresh out of the oil.

But the chips are awful

They're a potato mulsh, I think they overcook them. They don't serve chips in gravy here (near Slough) and I miss that so much from being a kid in Manchester. Chips in curry sauce is nice but it's not the same.

When I was a kid, you could by thick slices of potato dipped in batter and fried. These were nicamed 'tatty scallops' and were 10p each.

I've never worked out why fishcakes from the supermarket are white...but fishcakes in the chippy have a grey flesh!!?

They do fried pineapple rings on request. Yum.

diablo · 11-01-2008, 00:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daisy Bennyboots

When I was a kid, you could by thick slices of potato dipped in batter and fried. These were nicamed 'tatty scallops' and were 10p each.

I've never worked out why fishcakes from the supermarket are white...but fishcakes in the chippy have a grey flesh!!?

They still do potato scollops round here. Think they tend to be around 40p now though.

I'd never thought about the colour of chip shop fishcakes, but you are correct, they are a sort of grey colour. Not had one for a long while but I think they tasted quite good.

I'm really feeling like fish'n chips now but they'll all be closed.

kazz59 · 11-01-2008, 00:16

We used to have loads of chippys near us but not anymore. It's about 2 mile to the nearest one. All the others have been taken over and turned into kebab or curry houses

not that there's anything wrong with that, but you can't beat a good old fashioned English Chippy.

The ones that are left do fried potatoes in batter still - we call them dabs. They also do wonderful chips & gravy, and some do "John Bulls", which are two big slices of potato with savoury mince in between, then the whole lot is coated in batter and fried - gorgeous.

FOXPRESIDENT · 11-01-2008, 02:36

Our local is part of the Admiral chain - i'm not sure what that is i think theres only a few in the area. Anyway. They usually have the biggest Haddock around. Very pricey all there foods now.

When I was at university in Lincoln we had one which was at the end of our street. I tell you it was fanastic- very NICE!!

They did various things, I can't remember them now but they would do Mars Bars battered...!! Mini Eggs Battered.. The list was completly endless..... i can't think what they properly did. Very reasonable very good! Never had any of them myself though.

11-01-2008, 02:48

We still have a van that comes round - they're gorgeous!

Daisy Bennyboots · 11-01-2008, 06:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arthur Pringle

We still have a van that comes round - they're gorgeous!

OMG, chip vans are the best. Unusually, one rolled up at a campsite in France...you just turn up with anything from a small dish to a giant bowl and the owner just charges you random prices to fill whatever your receptivle with the most delicious hot crispy chips I've ever tasted

Don't think I've sampled a British chip van's fare. I always loved the 50s one in the film Wish You Were Here.

Barbarella81 · 11-01-2008, 08:36

I lived in a coastal resort growing up and we had the best fish & chip shops ever...I even worked at 2 chip restaurants whilst at school I was that obsessed with chips!
But my local in London is horrible

I don't know how they do it, but the chips are always stringy. I nearly choked on one once. I haven't been back!
Luckily near my work is a great chippie if I ever get the fancy. And they do cheesy chips

Kacey · 11-01-2008, 08:39

I go to the chip shop on high days and holidays and here in the midlands we have wonderful artery clogging battered chips!

stud u like · 11-01-2008, 08:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daisy Bennyboots

Our local does the most lovely, thick, fresh juicy haddock in golden batter. Best eating at 7pm on Friday when the queue is 10 people long and the fish is boiling hot and fresh out of the oil.

But the chips are awful

They're a potato mulsh, I think they overcook them. They don't serve chips in gravy here (near Slough) and I miss that so much from being a kid in Manchester. Chips in curry sauce is nice but it's not the same.

When I was a kid, you could by thick slices of potato dipped in batter and fried. These were nicamed 'tatty scallops' and were 10p each.

I've never worked out why fishcakes from the supermarket are white...but fishcakes in the chippy have a grey flesh!!?

They do fried pineapple rings on request. Yum.

Some Chippies in Folkestone do chips and gravy. Why not do a day trip when it is warmer?

11-01-2008, 08:49

I havent been in a bit, usually get 1/4 pounder and chips with garlic sauce

fannyadams · 11-01-2008, 08:50

Our local fish and chip shop is awful, I reckon from reading the posts, a lot of us live in the same village/town or the alternative is that we Brits can't actually cook fish and chips and the majority of the fish and chip shops in the UK are rubbish. I would much rather do my own at home and then it is fresh and tastes wonderful. mmm (thinks - it's Friday so that's given me an idea for supper)

RootsFran · 11-01-2008, 10:00

My Local Chip Shop is an award winning one, they have fantastic fish and chips and posters in the shop say they use a healthy fat, can't remember the name.

They do home-made fishcakes as well as the grey ones, are nowhere near the seaside.

They also have some good meal in a box bargains as well. No cheesy chips though, they dont seem to have reached this area yet, nor pea fritters, we have battered mushrooms and pineapple, I love pickled eggs.

There is always a queue but the chips are always hot and fresh, it seems though that for every one person in the queue they are buying for those back home so even if there are only three in front of you it still takes ages.

brogusblue · 11-01-2008, 11:40

Hello

Where i live we have 3 in about a mile Sun On (Chinese) bloody awful greasy and the chips are dire, Mr Chips (Poles) not bad all right if needs must, Langale road (Chinese) the better one around here the best one Pepes chippy nr tescos & the halfway house simply the best

I always chicken nuggets and chips but this is only a treat maybe once a month

The best fish & chips i had was at the black country museum and the worst was harry ramsdens at blackpool
Cheers
Brogusblue

Smudgie · 11-01-2008, 11:44

I don't miss much about living in London, but I do miss the rock salmon. Best chippie fish ever.

ontheloop54 · 11-01-2008, 11:51

We've got a really posh chippy nere where i live - rather pricey

And there's a good one called The Codfather

They give you mahoosive portions of chips - they're great!

Orangebathwater · 11-01-2008, 12:46

London has so few, there is none near me. I do trapse down to the one on Lisson Grove, very good.
I quite like the Sea Cows that have popped up in SW4 and N16 - would love one in Hampstead.

I'm from Cornwall so very used to amazing fish and chips. *sob*

bluespeed · 11-01-2008, 14:35

My local chip shop is gorgeous. Cod and chips and lots of salt and vinegar. You feel like a grease bucket afterwards, though.

Faxy Fowler · 11-01-2008, 14:44

Go every Friday and looking forward to tonight's feast.

Changed to a new one though, as the place I always went to started taking the piss with the amount they give you. In the old days I got loads but then they used to reduce the amount because they knew you'd be back everyweek.

Now I can have a chip butty and still have plenty left on the plate. Always add a few beans to it too and a nice hot cuppa - lovely.

10-01-2008, 22:58	#1
Daisy Bennyboots Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sarf coast. Posts: 16,527	Your local Fish and chips shop Do you love going to the chippy? If so what do you buy? Do they sell anything unusual or regional? What 'extras' do they sell like sauces or pickled egg?

10-01-2008, 23:04	#2
AaronG Posts: n/a	No, mine is quite poor. I think generally over the years fish and chips have long had their day as being the take-away of choice. Even as a kid in the 80's/90's the prospect of a fish and chip take-away meal didn't excite me as much as it seemed to my older relatives who still to this day have a great fondess for it. For me it's always been oddly smelling fish with badly cut, over cooked, over priced chips in some old tatty white paper.

10-01-2008, 23:04	#3
alco_vixen Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 302	dont go to fish shop very much as there isnt a decent one where i live

10-01-2008, 23:10	#4
stud u like Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Sunny Side Of The Street Posts: 40,105	The decent one is two miles away,so I don't go to it very often.

10-01-2008, 23:10	#5
minimalistmatt Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NW Posts: 6,593	We have a local one which is very good, they've won prizes etc. I don't go very often, maybe not for 3 months - then every other day for a week. But my new years resolution is to stay off it for a bit now. I don't go for the extras just fish and chips. It's sooooo lovely, and I passed there tonight - but my willpower held out even though I was thinking how nice it would be to pop in. What puts me off is all fast food places use hydrogenated fat don't they ? Why does it taste so good though?

10-01-2008, 23:29	#6
No Chance Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sheffield ♂ Posts: 1,660	My local one is okay, but not as good as it was. The last couple of times I've been, quite a few of the chips were hard in the middle. I usually have chips (salt, no vinegar) and curry sauce when I go. I have them wrapped then take them home; I'm a very fussy eater and I can't pour the sauce over the chips. I leave the sauce in the pot and dip the chips in it.

10-01-2008, 23:39	#7
diablo Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Fylde Coast Posts: 8,103	My nearest one, about 150 yards away, was very good for many years - but is now bad. There aren't many traditional ones left and very few good ones. I've been told there is a good one about a mile away. May try it tomorrow. p.s. I like crunchy batter on the fish and soggy chips.

10-01-2008, 23:50	#8
Daisy Bennyboots Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sarf coast. Posts: 16,527	Our local does the most lovely, thick, fresh juicy haddock in golden batter. Best eating at 7pm on Friday when the queue is 10 people long and the fish is boiling hot and fresh out of the oil. But the chips are awful They're a potato mulsh, I think they overcook them. They don't serve chips in gravy here (near Slough) and I miss that so much from being a kid in Manchester. Chips in curry sauce is nice but it's not the same. When I was a kid, you could by thick slices of potato dipped in batter and fried. These were nicamed 'tatty scallops' and were 10p each. I've never worked out why fishcakes from the supermarket are white...but fishcakes in the chippy have a grey flesh!!? They do fried pineapple rings on request. Yum.

11-01-2008, 00:07	#9
diablo Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Fylde Coast Posts: 8,103	Quote: Originally Posted by Daisy Bennyboots When I was a kid, you could by thick slices of potato dipped in batter and fried. These were nicamed 'tatty scallops' and were 10p each. I've never worked out why fishcakes from the supermarket are white...but fishcakes in the chippy have a grey flesh!!? They still do potato scollops round here. Think they tend to be around 40p now though. I'd never thought about the colour of chip shop fishcakes, but you are correct, they are a sort of grey colour. Not had one for a long while but I think they tasted quite good. I'm really feeling like fish'n chips now but they'll all be closed.

11-01-2008, 00:16	#10
kazz59 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Up in t'North Posts: 1,975	We used to have loads of chippys near us but not anymore. It's about 2 mile to the nearest one. All the others have been taken over and turned into kebab or curry houses not that there's anything wrong with that, but you can't beat a good old fashioned English Chippy. The ones that are left do fried potatoes in batter still - we call them dabs. They also do wonderful chips & gravy, and some do "John Bulls", which are two big slices of potato with savoury mince in between, then the whole lot is coated in batter and fried - gorgeous.

11-01-2008, 02:36	#11
FOXPRESIDENT Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 3,892	Our local is part of the Admiral chain - i'm not sure what that is i think theres only a few in the area. Anyway. They usually have the biggest Haddock around. Very pricey all there foods now. When I was at university in Lincoln we had one which was at the end of our street. I tell you it was fanastic- very NICE!! They did various things, I can't remember them now but they would do Mars Bars battered...!! Mini Eggs Battered.. The list was completly endless..... i can't think what they properly did. Very reasonable very good! Never had any of them myself though.

11-01-2008, 02:48	#12
Arthur Pringle Posts: n/a	We still have a van that comes round - they're gorgeous!

11-01-2008, 06:30	#13
Daisy Bennyboots Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sarf coast. Posts: 16,527	Quote: Originally Posted by Arthur Pringle We still have a van that comes round - they're gorgeous! OMG, chip vans are the best. Unusually, one rolled up at a campsite in France...you just turn up with anything from a small dish to a giant bowl and the owner just charges you random prices to fill whatever your receptivle with the most delicious hot crispy chips I've ever tasted Don't think I've sampled a British chip van's fare. I always loved the 50s one in the film Wish You Were Here.

11-01-2008, 08:36	#14
Barbarella81 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 559	I lived in a coastal resort growing up and we had the best fish & chip shops ever...I even worked at 2 chip restaurants whilst at school I was that obsessed with chips! But my local in London is horrible I don't know how they do it, but the chips are always stringy. I nearly choked on one once. I haven't been back! Luckily near my work is a great chippie if I ever get the fancy. And they do cheesy chips

11-01-2008, 08:39	#15
Kacey Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Birmingham Posts: 288	I go to the chip shop on high days and holidays and here in the midlands we have wonderful artery clogging battered chips!

11-01-2008, 08:43	#16
stud u like Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Sunny Side Of The Street Posts: 40,105	Quote: Originally Posted by Daisy Bennyboots Our local does the most lovely, thick, fresh juicy haddock in golden batter. Best eating at 7pm on Friday when the queue is 10 people long and the fish is boiling hot and fresh out of the oil. But the chips are awful They're a potato mulsh, I think they overcook them. They don't serve chips in gravy here (near Slough) and I miss that so much from being a kid in Manchester. Chips in curry sauce is nice but it's not the same. When I was a kid, you could by thick slices of potato dipped in batter and fried. These were nicamed 'tatty scallops' and were 10p each. I've never worked out why fishcakes from the supermarket are white...but fishcakes in the chippy have a grey flesh!!? They do fried pineapple rings on request. Yum. Some Chippies in Folkestone do chips and gravy. Why not do a day trip when it is warmer?

11-01-2008, 08:49	#17
Eternal Life Posts: n/a	I havent been in a bit, usually get 1/4 pounder and chips with garlic sauce

11-01-2008, 08:50	#18
fannyadams Forum Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,060	Our local fish and chip shop is awful, I reckon from reading the posts, a lot of us live in the same village/town or the alternative is that we Brits can't actually cook fish and chips and the majority of the fish and chip shops in the UK are rubbish. I would much rather do my own at home and then it is fresh and tastes wonderful. mmm (thinks - it's Friday so that's given me an idea for supper)

11-01-2008, 10:00	#19
RootsFran Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fens Posts: 455	My Local Chip Shop is an award winning one, they have fantastic fish and chips and posters in the shop say they use a healthy fat, can't remember the name. They do home-made fishcakes as well as the grey ones, are nowhere near the seaside. They also have some good meal in a box bargains as well. No cheesy chips though, they dont seem to have reached this area yet, nor pea fritters, we have battered mushrooms and pineapple, I love pickled eggs. There is always a queue but the chips are always hot and fresh, it seems though that for every one person in the queue they are buying for those back home so even if there are only three in front of you it still takes ages.

11-01-2008, 11:40	#20
brogusblue Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: South Bedfordshire Posts: 571	Hello Where i live we have 3 in about a mile Sun On (Chinese) bloody awful greasy and the chips are dire, Mr Chips (Poles) not bad all right if needs must, Langale road (Chinese) the better one around here the best one Pepes chippy nr tescos & the halfway house simply the best I always chicken nuggets and chips but this is only a treat maybe once a month The best fish & chips i had was at the black country museum and the worst was harry ramsdens at blackpool Cheers Brogusblue

11-01-2008, 11:44	#21
Smudgie Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,004	I don't miss much about living in London, but I do miss the rock salmon. Best chippie fish ever.

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Your local Fish and chips shop

11-01-2008, 11:51	#22
ontheloop54 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: The Big Smoke Posts: 2,747	We've got a really posh chippy nere where i live - rather pricey And there's a good one called The Codfather They give you mahoosive portions of chips - they're great!

11-01-2008, 12:46	#23
Orangebathwater Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,369	London has so few, there is none near me. I do trapse down to the one on Lisson Grove, very good. I quite like the Sea Cows that have popped up in SW4 and N16 - would love one in Hampstead. I'm from Cornwall so very used to amazing fish and chips. sob

11-01-2008, 14:35	#24
bluespeed Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: South Coast Posts: 4,662	My local chip shop is gorgeous. Cod and chips and lots of salt and vinegar. You feel like a grease bucket afterwards, though.

11-01-2008, 14:44	#25
Faxy Fowler Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 16,359	Go every Friday and looking forward to tonight's feast. Changed to a new one though, as the place I always went to started taking the piss with the amount they give you. In the old days I got loads but then they used to reduce the amount because they knew you'd be back everyweek. Now I can have a chip butty and still have plenty left on the plate. Always add a few beans to it too and a nice hot cuppa - lovely.