Recommended chippies fish and chips?

[DRM]

I know the Magpie has a hell of a reputation.
Have you been/is the reputation deserved?
Is it pricey, having entered the gourmet listings?
Last time I was in Whitby there was a hell of a queue outside and I confess I couldn't be bothered.

The Magpie has taken pricey to a whole new level, a couple of years ago, takeaway, 4x Fish & Chips, 2x tins of pop a tad over £31, the last time we were in Whitby it spontaneously combusted for the 2nd time in 8 hours

 

[DRM]

PJ's on the A650 Bradford Road in East Ardsley just outside Wakefield is a good Fish 'ole, as a kid there was an excellent, but now long gone chippy on Fountain St in Morley that really was fantastic, I can't for the life of me remember it's true name, it was known locally as "Mucky Ned's", but the fish & chips were outstanding

 

[craigwend]

Trouble with Papas is they're great when they first open, but after a while, the quality goes down, they seem to supply the best stuff to their new places for a while. The one in Bilton was great at first, now we avoid it.

I still use it, quite consistent, not noticed drop in quality, tried the one in Willerby and don't notice a difference, there are some better ones within reasonable distance, though the 'small fish special' is bit of a bargain

 

[randynewmanscat]

Yep, and its a lot cheaper than Harry Ramsdens round the corner.

I went to the Ramsdens in Guiseley in the late 80's, it was rubbish. I went to Ramsdens in Manchester at the Manchester end of Water Street, it was rubbish

 

[randynewmanscat]

so many better places (and plaices) in Whitby than the Magpie tourist trap. Quayside just down the road for one...

Not for the life of me can I remember the name of the chippy I visited after ordering a bike frame from just up the hill from the bay but it ranks with my very worst chip shop experiences.

 

[randynewmanscat]

I wonder if that's anything to do with the polystyrene trays they now come in?

There's a chippy near me that, if you eat them straight away are good, but if the lid is closed and you wait five or ten minutes they go soft, it's as if they are stewing inside the tray because it doesn't breath.

There's one for the inventions thread, gortex chip wrappers.

Eat them directly outside the shop or if you have the luxury of having visited the fryer in a motor, open the lid as your right foot hits the carpet to get them home while they are still hot.

 

[Blue Hills]

I went to the Ramsdens in Guiseley in the late 80's, it was rubbish. I went to Ramsdens in Manchester at the Manchester end of Water Street, it was rubbish

yes it would have been the Guiseley one I went to, also in the 80s.
Any theories as to how it got its reputation as some sort of culinary wonder?

 

[randynewmanscat]

yes it would have been the Guiseley one I went to, also in the 80s.
Any theories as to how it got its reputation as some sort of culinary wonder?

No but the very same question was asked by one of my colleagues as we tidied up the chip wrappers and got back to work.
Some sort of triumph of marketing over a mediocre product offering.

 

[Randomnerd]

yes it would have been the Guiseley one I went to, also in the 80s.
Any theories as to how it got its reputation as some sort of culinary wonder?

https://www.aireboroughhistoricalsociety.co.uk/memories/harry-ramsdens-1952.aspx


In my childhood - the seventies - Ramsden’s was a weird Mecca for a certain day tripper. Those diners were trying to cling on to the fifties, to Formica and fish forks. Pure nostalgia kept the fryers fired.
Maybe it was never really that good. Is anywhere? The place often is ever the same, but customers drift away, trip out less often, change.

 

[Blue Hills]

No but the very same question was asked by one of my colleagues as we tidied up the chip wrappers and got back to work.
Some sort of triumph of marketing over a mediocre product offering.

But its reputation came pre the big branding marketing push didn't it?
It was supposed to be some sort of apotheosis of the chip only known by/appreciated by the most worthy. Folk admitted to the inner sanctum?
Edit, randomnerd cross posted and may have explained.

 

[NorthernDave]

Locals will tell you that Harry Ramsdens went downhill when it was sold to the highest bidder and they started franchising the "brand" to anyone who had the money - there is one of their concessions in a Mecca bingo hall near here. The branch on Scarborough sea front holds the dubious title of providing the worst fish n chips I've ever had - complaints were clearly so commonplace that they had a sign by the till with the complaints process on!

The irony is that the original Harry Ramsdens site was closed by the new owners as unprofitable and sold to the Wetherby Whaler who (prelockdown) were making a roaring success of it.

 

[Hover Fly]

Sit down, in the Fish-over-Chips, Grange-over-Sands. Take away, The Old Toilets, Greenodd. Although with any chippy it depends on being lucky in getting served before the food has stood too long.

 

[DRM]

Locals will tell you that Harry Ramsdens went downhill when it was sold to the highest bidder and they started franchising the "brand" to anyone who had the money - there is one of their concessions in a Mecca bingo hall near here. The branch on Scarborough sea front holds the dubious title of providing the worst fish n chips I've ever had - complaints were clearly so commonplace that they had a sign by the till with the complaints process on!

The irony is that the original Harry Ramsdens site was closed by the new owners as unprofitable and sold to the Wetherby Whaler who (prelockdown) were making a roaring success of it.

The Harry Ramsdens name, is I believe now part of the 2 Sisters Foods Group, think they're West Midlands based they own Fox's Biscuits, and do Pizzas and Chicken products, it's as far removed from what Harry Ramsdens Was as it is possible to be

 

[stephec]

Sit down, in the Fish-over-Chips, Grange-over-Sands. Take away, The Old Toilets, Greenodd. Although with any chippy it depends on being lucky in getting served before the food has stood too long.

Whereabouts in Grange is that please as I often pass for work?

Usually I'll go in the butchers just down from the library for one of their top class pies.

 

[stephec]

Went to the caravan park for a forgettable weekend a few years ago in Siloth...the saviour of the weekend was the chippy ! Well there's not much else there,especially on a cold wet weekend with two teenagers.Interesting place though.
As for the vinegar debate,I usually take a bottle of Sarsons in the car...I can't eat fish and chips without vinegar.My partner would say I might aswell just drink it the amount I put on.

It's a nice place, but there's not much there for teenagers. 😊