National Fish & Chip Day

Today marks National Fish and Chip Day, the one day of the year we Brits can all look forward to.

There is no doubt that us Brits love Fish and Chips, with over 380 million portions consumed in Britain every year! Whether it’s cod, curry sauce, haddock, gravy or scraps, a chippy tea is as British as it comes. Both Lancashire and London stake a claim to being the first to invent the famous meal. It’s thought the first Fish & Chip shop could have been in Oldham back in 1863, or over in East London in 1860. Since their invention, Fish and Chips have become an essential part of the working man’s diet, so well loved and intrinsic to British culture that during the Second World War it was considered too important to the nation’s morale to be rationed.

The most famous name in fish and chips is Harry Ramsden. Back in 1931, Harry bought a wooden hut near a tram stop in Guiseley, West Yorkshire, which offered fish, chips, tea and bread and butter for just 99p. Not long after, Harry opened his first restaurant in the same location, offering opulence and glamour second only to the Ritz in London. This cemented Harry Ramsden’s as a must-visit dining destination for all, drawing huge crowds; none bigger than in July 1952, when the record was set for the most portions of Fish & Chips served in a day – a whopping 10,000 portions. By the 1960’s, Harry Ramsden’s restaurants had launched around the globe and at some of Britain’s most iconic seaside locations, confirming them to be the go-to name for great quality Fish & Chips. 

Aston spoke to Kim Jackson.

Photo by Samuel tresch on Unsplash