One of life’s simple pleasures is perfectly battered fish and chips with absolutely lashings of salt and vinegar.
My mouth is watering at the mere thought of it – and it’s blindingly obvious why the dish is the UK’s very favourite takeaway.
Such is our love affair with the meal that there are a million lists dedicated to finding the very best fish and chips that Britain has to offer.
I recently took a trip to the booming seaside resort of Whitby where over the years two main fish and chip restaurants – The Magpie Cafe and Trenchers have battled it out to retain the sought after ‘best in the UK’ title.
The Magpie Cafe seems to have most recently clinched the top spot – at least according to TimeOut which placed it at number one in its recent rundown.
It’s famous where I live in the North East of England. And no newcomer’s trip to the resort is complete without joining the often trailing queues outside its distinctive black and white home which was first opened to diners in 1939.
A quick analysis of review website TripAdvisor also ranks The Magpie highly – it currently has an impressive rating of four and a half out of a possible five rating and almost 9,500 reviews.
But interestingly the website is now making use of AI to summarise its most recent reviews of the eaterie – and it’s not all positive with a “mixed bag of experiences.”
It said: “The restaurant’s fish dishes, especially the traditional fish and chips, frequently receive praise for their freshness and flavour, though some patrons have encountered greasy or overcooked food alongside lengthy waits.”
“As for value, opinions are divided: many appreciate the quality of the fish and chips, yet some consider the portions small or the pricing steep,” add the summary.
So I took one for the team and decided to sample them for myself. As I was on my own I didn’t fancy taking a lone table inside so joined a small line of people waiting for Magpie takeaway.
The hungry tourists were whittled down quickly and I placed my order for cod, chips and a bottle of water. The total bill was £11.95 for the food and £1.95 for a bottle of water.
Expensive? Yes it was. The average price of fish and chips in the UK is currently £9 according to ONS. But given the specialness of the location – slap bang in the middle of Whitby’s stunning harbour – I wasn’t at all surprised.
I had asked for small – but they only came in one size.
And after a wait of around 10 minutes I was presented with the most generous portion of cod on a mammoth bed of chips.
I smothered the lot with loads of salt and vinegar before grabbing them and running off to try and find a spot to scoff them.
When it comes to fish and chips done badly it’s a total disaster. But these were perfection – light and crispy batter, succulent and thick cod and un-floppy chips perfect for dipping in tomato sauce. I, did, however struggle to eat the lot.
My one big issue is that Whitby is deluged with fish and chip shops. I was in town to chat to locals about whether tourism was wreaking too much havoc on the resort, with one saying that his main observation was the sheer number of chippies.
So yes, Magpie’s fish and chips are pretty damn nice. But are they really the best in the UK? I’m not sure I can agree – just weeks prior I’d enjoyed an even tastier portion in nearby Scarborough at a place on the front called The Anchor. And priced at a cheaper £9 too.
My strong advice would be to take such lists like you might do your meal – with a good pinch of salt. Spread the love and support as many of the local chippies as possible. Your seaside town might be depending on it.
