With more than 283 million fish and chip shop meals (featuring fish) sold a year, the traditional dish of fish and chips is still top of the league of Britain's favourite fast foods. It is difficult to resist the tasty combination of fish and chips and fortunately there are over 8,600 fish and chip shops in the UK.
Delicious, nutritious and close to the nation’s heart
What is it about fish and chips that makes them the number one takeaway in the UK? Is it the wonderful aroma, their unrivalled flavour, the warm comforting feeling that they provide, or simply their natural golden good looks?
Fish and chips from fish and chip shops are freshly prepared from natural products. Fillets of fish, mostly haddock or cod but sometimes plaice and whiting, are covered in batter, fried until golden and served with freshly chipped potatoes. Fish and chips are a wholesome dish and lower in calories than many of their fast food rivals. They have been recommended by doctors for pregnant women and were one of the only foods not to be rationed during the war. Historians even argue that fish and chips helped us to win the Second World War.
Britain’s favourite accompaniment to fish and chips is salt and vinegar but depending on the region, others are just as popular… mushy peas, tomato ketchup, curry sauce, gravy, or even a bottle of stout. Strange but true, the Chinese are so sweet on our fish and chips that they serve them with sugar.
Fish and chips are a big favourite for family takeaway meals. They’re nearly four times more popular than Indian curries.
In the year ending May 2003, more than five times as many meals were sold from fish and chip shops than Indian restaurants.
Nearly 70% of us take our fish and chips home to eat.
Cod is the most popular fish sold in fish and chip shops accounting for 75% of fish sold, followed by haddock 22%. Other white fish, such as plaice, are also popular.
Some shops offer locally landed fish depending on what’s available in the market place but the vast majority of the cod and haddock sold in fish and chip shops come from the sustainable waters of the Barents Sea and Iceland.
More than one in six of us can’t resist going to the fish and chip shop at least once a week. Those from Yorkshire have the biggest cravings.
Please note: Out of 8600 Fish & Chip Shops in the U.K., Fat Harry’s Fish & Chips have be voted within the top 5 Fish & Chips of Hampshire, Berkshire & Oxfordshire area.
Fat Harry’s is the only Fish & Chip Shop on the Isle of Wight that has been awarded the Sea Fish Fryers Quality Award.
Hope you try us soon!
Ricky Platt
(Fat Harry’s Manager)