FISH AND CHIPS......ITS ALL FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES

ITS ALL FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES
FISH AND CHIPS

LETS START WITH A BIG FISH AT SURPRISINGLY THE BIG FISH IN OLLERTON



Everybody knows this blog is made up of many constituent parts from the game, travel, the characters encountered, a selection of pictures and of course last but definitely not least the food.  More often than not the attempt to sample some decent fish and chips has been to the fore over the proceeding seasons.

WILLIAM WALTON FISH AND CHIPS IN ANSTEY CAME WELL RECOMMENDED AND DIDNT DISAPPOINT



All shapes and sizes can nicely sum up not only the food but the emporiums serving up the delicacy from traditional Yorkshire fisheries to town centre flashy outlets too often though some establishments have expanded into a wide selection of other foods from pizzas to kebabs and often these are the ones that have not quite hit the spot.  So over the more recent times I have become more demanding a quick review of the target chippy before match day is often followed up with a 'do I fancy it' viewing and of course if all else fails its the local Coop for some pastries, chocolate and bottle of carbonated.  Of course that often leads to ground food sampling and the staple diet of chip pea cob, or is that bap, balm, batch, roll, bread cake etc with that debate often showing where you are from it will quite literally roll on.

THE FISH BITS AT BENTLEY WITH A NICE SIZED FISH



With the shops coming in many different shapes and sizes the experience is often added to by their owners and staff who much like the traditional butcher are characters who offer a thought on life while you wait and if your are a local even enquire about Ethel's well being.  Many of the chippys I have visited have had an amazing connection to my own location in Long Buckby the owner knew the proprietor of my own village chippy and last season in Kings Norton my Derbyshire accent was picked out by The Cod Pot owner who had come from Long Eaton in the same county to set up his excellent take away.

HOPPYS OFF THE HOOK ADJACENT TO CASTLEFORD STATION WITH CHIPS, FISH AND MUSHY PEA FRITTER WELL RECOMMENDED



Fish and chips are nearly always the order of the day but on a day were something less is fancied or I'm not quite sure a fish cake is selected for research and their in enters the fish cake of Yorkshire variety battered with two slices of potato surrounding a slither of fish or the more general bread crumbed variety but make sure you order the correct one.

PRE MATCH TO COLLINGHAM BENTLEYS IN NEWARK WHICH WAS STRANGELY VISITED FOR THE VISIT OF BENTLEY AT COLLINGHAM AND A WEEK AFTER VISITING BENTLEY ALSO SO THERE WAS A REAL THEME GOING ON



Much as the buildings and food come in a variety of forms so does the packaging from the polystyrene trays to the new elongated cardboard box offerings and there are even some still serving up their delights in greaseproof lined newspapers so you can catch up with last weeks news.  Eating utensils have advanced from the small wooden twin pronged fork to larger plastic offerings and now the large eco friendly wooden forks.

GRIMSBY FISHERIES IN KNIGHTON LEICESTER IS ONE OF THE LARGER EMPORIUMS WITH A GOOD MEAL SUPPLIED BEFORE HEADING TO WATCH RATHER APPROPRIATELY FRIAR LANE OLD BOYS



The selection of fish from cod to haddock as widened recently with sometimes the cheaper option of Pollock offering a more cost effective price for some.  Some fish and chips are cooked in a variety of oils and fats with a lot of the Yorkshire shops cooking in dripping and this I guess gives the food a darker look.   

UNI CHIPPY IN HANLEY ALWAYS A GOOD OPTION CLOSE BY THE STATION 

Fish and chip shops are of course country wide and we often feel that up north and to that end the midlands we are more proficient with the production of said delicacy.  Overall this would appear to correct and although there are obviously good ones down south my experience is that its better up north.  Having sampled a well regarded one in Harpenden and although ok it would not have worried the top of the table showing of the northern big hitters.

KIRKSTALL FISHERIES ON A VISIT TO MILFORD MARLINS SHOWS THE MORE TRADITIONAL LOOK

How to review these chippys was a challenge do I show the gut busting portion sizes, the smaller more adequate measures the large shops with a variety of options on offer or the smaller back street outlets serving their local community often with a nice set of pavement weeds on view.  Hopefully herein there is an example of all varieties.

ARMSTRONGS ON A VISIT TO PRESTWICH HEYS CAME WITH GOOD REVIEWS AND THEY WERE RIGHT



Chip shop names are another piece of literal work and I'm sure have amused many of you on your travels locally in South Normanton we have the excellent, both in food and name, The Frying Squad which plays to my Sweeney watching days of the 1970s.  In Castleford the fantastic Hoppy's Of The Hook is a long title but it plays on the owners name and part of the fisherman's kit. 

SELBY TOWN FC ALLOWED FOR A FURTHER BIT OF RESEARCH AT THE AWARD WINNING MR C'S

We have nearly arrived at the end and although not a fan of the many extra items that fish shops entertain to I guess encourage more visitors and more variety to seek out re-visits kebabs, pizza, deep fried mars bars etc.  It would be remiss of me to forget a wide selection of local and of course national pies offered by many and then there is batter bits.  Often confined to the dustbin of history who doesn't accept the offer of 'would you like some bits as well' oh go on then if you insist as they have recently remerged to see the light of day, although I guess that's where you are geographically researching.


ILKESTON FOR THE EXCELLENT KERRYS

TAYLORS AT WOODLEY EAT IN OR TAKE AWAY OR BOTH

Although I guess fish and chips were intended to be eaten strolling along the Promenade or the streets of your chosen town there is a crafty little option to the take away variety the chip shop that offers an eat in facility.  Certainly on visits were there is a little more time built on or I have seen all there is too see locally this is a great option and here we have two fine examples.  Firstly on visits to Stockport Town which is invariably on inclement days to make use of a 3g game Taylors of Woodley always offer an excellent example with a warm mug of tea alongside.  While closer to home Plains Fish Bar in Mapperley on visits to Gedling MW FC are also well thought of and my experience backs that up too the only problem is so does the football clubs catering as well.
Along this journey I have captured pictures of many of the delicacies sampled alongside their production emporium which has shown the wide variety of fish and chips shops available around the country.  Over the time I have reduced the pictures used and I know many like to have a look at them as part of the blog and the selection process for this write up in no way selects one over the other because this was such a difficult job to select a final group of pictures but I'm sure you will agree there is a fine selection on show.  Its often been suggested that when this started a few years back there really should have been a league table of fish and chip shops and it would of course have been challenging with so many vying for the top spot.

THE FRYERY AT WHALEY BRIDGE FEATURED BEFORE BUT WAS A SUPERB VISIT

Hope you have enjoyed the little irreverent look at one of the nations favourite meals options anyway I'm feeling a bit peckish I'm off to get something to eat, fish and chips anyone.

THE FRYING SQUAD AT SOUTH NORMANTON A FINE EXAMPLE OF FISH AND CHIPS