Information on Fish & Chips

There is nothing more British than fish and chips - eaten with salt and vinegar. This page provides some fascinating information on one of our Great British institutions.

Humble Beginnings

But where did this famous culinary delight originate? The simple answer is that no one really knows. We do know that fish and chips were developed separately. The French invented chips or "chipped pommes de terre a la mode" (from the humble potato commonly believed to have been brought to Europe by Sir Walter Raleigh in the 17 th century), and in 1839 Charles Dickens referred to a "fried fish warehouse" in Oliver Twist.

The great British fish and chip trade grew out of these existing small businesses which sold fish and chips separately in the streets and alleys of London and some of Britain's industrial towns in the 1850's.

Both Lancashire and London stake a claim to the origin of our most famous meal. Chips were the staple fare of the industrial north whilst fried fish was introduced in London's East

The Nations Favourite

However the dish originated, fish and chips is a national favourite, eaten and loved by every generation, in fact its position as the nation's favourite hot take away remains unchallenged, despite the advent of the American burger

In 1995, the British consumed an astonishing 300 million servings of fish and chips, that equates to six servings for every man woman and child in the country. The record for the largest number of portions sold in one day by an independent fish and chip shop is over 4,000!

Despite the versatility of the chip, fish is far and away our favourite accompaniment for this form of the humble potato.

Facts & Figures

Here is some facts and figures about fish & chips provided by the British Potato Council and Seafish.

• The UK's 8,500 fish and chip shops sell over 277 million portions of chips per year.
• Over half the UK adult population visits fish and chip shop at least once a month, and 15% of the UK adult population enjoy fish and chips once or twice a week.
• The British Nutrition Foundation confirms that an average portion of battered fish and chips contains 20.6g of fat. That is almost three times less fat than a chicken tikka masala and pilau rice, which is loaded with a staggering 59.9g fat. A Chinese takeaway of sweet and sour pork with egg-fried rice weighs in with 38.6g fat, nearly double the content of fish and chips.
• An average serving of chips contains more than double the amount of fibre found in an average serving of brown rice or bowl of porridge.
• An average portion of battered cod & chips has fewer calories, at least half the saturated fat and just a tenth of the salt of a cheese and tomato pizza.
• You can get a third of your daily vitamin C from a portion of chips.
• Thick chips absorb less oil than thin ones, so chunky chips are healthier.
• Fish & Chips is amongst the least processed takeaway food available.