Fish and chips have become associated with seaside holidays and family traditions, solidifying their place in British culture. They’re a widespread Friday tradition, too, with many Britons marking the end of the working week with a trip to their local chippy. But there’s more to this iconic dish than many people know, says the team at Poppies, a chain of London chippies.
Surprisingly, fish and chips were one of the few foods not rationed during World War 2 in an effort to keep morale high. Sir Winston Churchill even called them ‘the good companions’. The team at Poppies told Express.co.uk: “Fish and chips are a British staple that is part of our country’s rich culinary heritage. They bring people together and are loved by all generations because they have been part of our national psyche for so long.”
“The fish and chips you find now in good chippies across the country is as you would have found it 100 years ago which is why it’s such a classic that we all love.”
A 2010 celebration of the iconic dish by the Independent revealed that it is more iconic to England than the Queen or The Beatles.
It is unknown exactly where the first chippy popped up, but it is acknowledged that that several places appeared around 1860 and “nobody knew at the time that something important was beginning”, said Professor John K Walton, author of Fish and Chips and the British Working Class, 1870-1940.
The takeaway food has been credited with promoting industrialisation and staving off revolution over the years, and its prominence in wartime goes beyond boosting morale.
Fish and chips also played a vital role on the front line in World War 2 with British troops identifying allies by shouting out “fish” and awaiting the reply “chips” to confirm the presence of other British soldiers.
It’s no wonder they remain so ingrained in British life today. According to the National Federation of Fish Friers, there are about 10,500 fish and chip shops in the UK.
The Poppies team notes that their customer base also spans all ages: “We are increasingly seeing multi-generational families dining at Poppies, which we love.
“Grandparents, their children and grandchildren dining together to enjoy that feel good factor and happy feelings of nostalgia.”
The chip shop chain’s most popular dish remains “the classic”: cod chips and mushy peas.
The Territorial Army prepared for battle on the same dish, with fish and chips provided in special catering tents erected at training camps in the 1930s.
The meal remains as nostalgic for those who lived through wartime as for those born many decades later.
Poppie’s team members reminisced: “We remember eating it as a treat on a Friday at school, as a takeaway wrapped in newspaper or a special treat with all the family.
“At Poppies, we are dedicated to preserving the authenticity of this British classic. From the retro surroundings in our restaurants to the quality of the food we produce, we only use fresh fish which we fillet ourselves, our potatoes are sourced from the fertile Cambridgeshire fens, and we use Pop’s traditional batter recipe.”
The fish and chip shop experts noted: “We hope this classic British dish will raise spirits and fuel the VE Day celebrations of all those heading to London whilst also raising money that will support veterans across the country.”
Today, May 8, Poppies will be selling ‘Fish Bites & Chips’ at the 1945 price of 13p or for a donation to The Not Forgotten. The intention is to make Britain’s favourite food accessible to all, just as it was during the war.