The Chippy Tour

John Greeves meets the man who has visited 131 fish and chip shops in 15 months

- John Greeves

In the last 30 years, the number of traditional chippies has fallen from 30,000 to 10,000. In recent times, Stephen Peel from Penketh in Warrington, Cheshire, a lifelong lover of fish and chips, has visited 131 chip shops across the country. He describes the chippy fare as “hearty food” and wants to support the industry and draw attention to the fact that many of these traditional and family run businesses are being forced to close because of rising costs. His chippy tour reads something like the Johnny Cash song I've Been Everywhere, taking him and his wife, Susan (they travel everywhere together), from Cornwall, to middle England, both south and north in the country as well as parts of Wales and Scotland.

“I'm spending over £500 a month, it’s hitting my wallet a bit but it’s for a good cause,” he says.

In his travels, Stephen has come across some incredible fish and chip shops but believes Yorkshire still is the epicentre of the industry. He’s found the cost for an average portion of fish and chips to be around £10, although up north, prices are generally cheaper and cost more in the region of £8 a head. The cheapest chippy Stephen has visited in the UK is Mathews Chippy in Grimsby, Lincolnshire with meals costing £3 below the average price elsewhere. He still feels a portion of fish and chips is better value for money than a pizza, bucket chicken, burger and other takeaways, and has fewer additives and preservatives.