Y Badell Aur chip shop, Bala

THE Badell Aur chip shop has been a mainstay on the Bala high street for many a year.

- MARK WILLIAMS

Famously, about 20 years ago, the Manchester United squad stopped here for their fish and chip suppers.The passage of time has not stopped it being a local talking point, as it's not every day that Cristiano Ronaldo stops in your local chippie for a battered sausage.

The chip shop still has the newspaper articles on their wall from that famous day, with headlines such as 'Menu-nited' and 'Man U on the Men U.

The Badell Aur doesn’t really have to advertise itself on social media as the tourists will just follow the delicious smell of freshly fried battered fish from the high street.

However, on my winter visit, the clientele were mainly locals, who were happily discussing the issues of the day in their native language.

Inside, the decor is about as traditional chip shop as it comes, with old-school brown leather booth seating. The pictures on the wall include interesting bits of Bala nostalgia, giving the café a real sense of community spirit.