What have you bought today?

[Mottie]

What's on the 'special' haddock

A side portion of cod.

 

[JonathanM]

What's on the 'special' haddock - Gold leaf?

A special haddock to me means that it is done in breadcrumbs, instead of batter. They still deep fry it though, which kind of spoils it.

A side portion of cod.

It's just a larger fillet!

 

[foxhole]

A partridge in a pear tree.

 

[Stivino]

A side portion of cod.

I don't know of any chippies up here that serve cod.

 

[Odds]

I don't know of any chippies up here that serve cod.

I think he's being 'fishy'...

 

[JonathanM]

Yes, I know it's "only a chippie", but I'd reckon the principle would still apply (albeit to a lesser degree than a more high-end establishment).

I don't know if this was the same everywhere, but growing up, chippies only used to open for two hours a day. There would be three times; lunchtime, teatime, or late evening, and a set weekly pattern, so one day it might be lunchtime and the next day teatime. And never on a Sunday. Customers would queue out the door. It was bit of a pain, but there was no doubt they were fresh. Some round here still do this, although others now open all day.

 

[securespark]

Were you at boarding school in Yorkshire?

Yes, Ackworth.
I called the "bits" scraps, too. Still do.

There was (maybe still is) a chippy on the hill up out of Ackworth. We were always scrounging for scraps, which they'd give us for nothing, even offering to put salt and vinegar on for us.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Yes, just this. Nothing more exotic! Some people I have known from darn sarf, said their chippies didn't sell chip butties. The other thing about parts of Yorkshire, is that if you buy fish and chips, you get haddock, not cod. There's even an area called the "Haddock Triangle".

There is a rhubarb triangle, never heard of an haddock triangle, though most around here, do offer haddock and some who only offer one fish - it's haddock. I only have haddock anyway, so it suits me just fine. If they only have cod, I walk out. I also heard that haddock is perhaps cheaper to source than cod.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Yes, Ackworth

Quite a posh school!

I called the "bits" scraps, too. Still do.

They are scraps around most of Yorkshire. They become bits north and south..

 

[Mottie]

Booked and paid for my Eurotunnel trip as well as European breakdown and recovery insurance.

 

[securespark]

Quite a posh school!

I suppose so. I was there in the late 70s to early 80s.

I was lucky enough to have a distant relative who gave my folks money for my schooling.

 

[JonathanM]

Does anyone remember the original Harry Ramsden's? The world's biggest (and poshest) fish and chip restaurant. Coachloads would come from across the North and queue for an hour to get in.

 

[Stivino]

Does anyone remember the original Harry Ramsden's? The world's biggest (and poshest) fish and chip restaurant. Coachloads would come from across the North and queue for an hour to get in.

There was one here, in Newhaven, in the old fishmarket on the pier. They used to have some kind of a challenge to eat all the food.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Does anyone remember the original Harry Ramsden's? The world's biggest (and poshest) fish and chip restaurant. Coachloads would come from across the North and queue for an hour to get in.

I remember it, last time I was in the area, it was still there in Guiseley. Now it has become commercialised, they even sell their frozen fish, chips and tins of peas in Iceland. I've never been tempted to try them at Guiseley, or from Iceland.

 

[JonathanM]

I remember it, last time I was in the area, it was still there in Guiseley. Now it has become commercialised, they even sell their frozen fish, chips and tins of peas in Iceland. I've never been tempted to try them at Guiseley, or from Iceland.

Sadly, the original Harry Ramsden's in Guiseley was a victim of its own huge success. It was bought out in the late 1980s by someone who had ambitions to undertake a massive expansion and franchising operation. Since then they've been through several takeovers. At one point the quality was very much reduced. Even the Guiseley restaurant started using frozen fish I think. In the end the restaurant fell into disrepair, and was set to be demolished. At the last minute, in 2012, the Wetherby Whaler chain stepped in to buy it and carried out a beautiful refurbishment. It is now the flagship restaurant of the Wetherby Whaler chain and sells gorgeous fish and chips. The batter is quite a bit different to Harry Ramsdens, but otherwise they are just as nice as Harry's at their best. The most beautiful fresh, white haddock. And no jockeying!

I have no idea who owns the the Harry Ramsden brand these days, but there is no linkage to the Guiseley restaurant.