Fish and chips
Fish and chips · London, UK
Jewish immigrants in London's East End opened the first shops in the 1860s, once wrapping it in old newspaper.
Know before you go
- Don't jump the queue
- don't feed seagulls at the seaside (banned in many seaside towns)
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
History
Jewish immigrants in the East End
Dickens mentions a 'fried fish warehouse' in Oliver Twist in 1838, and an 1845 cookbook for ordinary people records 'fried fish, Jewish fashion' — coated in a batter of flour and water and fried. In the 1860s Joseph Malin, a Jewish immigrant from Eastern Europe, opened one of the first fish-and-chip shops in London, and around the same time John Lees opened one in Lancashire. By 1910 there were more than 25,000 fish-and-chip shops across Britain.
Source: Wikipedia: Fish and chips
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Fish and chip shops first appeared in Britain in the 1860s, and by 1910 there were more than 25,000 across the country. One of the earliest was opened in London by Joseph Malin, a Jewish immigrant from Eastern Europe; Dickens mentioned a 'fried fish warehouse' in Oliver Twist in 1838. British fish and chips were originally wrapped in old newspaper, later replaced by white paper and cardboard boxes.
Local customs
Sprinkled with salt and malt vinegar, with mushy peas or tartare sauce
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
London Underground: tap in and tap out
- Tap your Oyster card or bank card on the yellow reader both on entry and exit, even if the gates are open
- At interchange stations with mid-route readers, tap as instructed
- Tapping in but not out, or not tapping before boarding
If you miss a tap you are charged the maximum fare; if an inspector finds you travelling without tapping, you may be fined or prosecuted.
Not yet verifiedSource: Wikipedia: Oyster card
Don’t DON'T
- Don't jump the queue
- don't feed seagulls at the seaside (banned in many seaside towns)
Locals appreciate DO
The British appreciate customers who queue properly and order simply.
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- Many of London's old 'chippies' offer eat-in or takeaway
- Friday is the traditional day for fish. Prices and opening hours are set by each shop
- popular old places often have queues, so go outside peak mealtimes.
Sources & verification notes
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