For millions of Christians like me, Good Friday, is a solemn day.
A day to reflect on the pain and sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Rather a strange day to call 'Good', then.
It feels anything but.
But the one bright spot of Good Friday for many us - is teatime.
It's the biggest day of the year to eat fish and chips for hordes of peckish people across the UK,
There’ll be large queues forming outside chippies from Southend to Stirling.
The tradition has a rich Christian heritage.
It stems from the Roman Catholic custom to not eat warm-blooded animals on Good Friday to acknowledge and do penance for the death of Jesus.
Fish became the popular alternative.
As time went on, huge portions of delicious fish and chips became the really popular alternative.
So in celebration of this custom, here are my #TopFiveGoodFriday greatest locations in the world to eat fish and chips (preferably with mushy peas, curry sauce and white buttered bread):
5. Grange-Over-Sands
I have great memories of climbing mountains in the Lakes and then driving back to relax at my friend’s holiday home in Grange. We always stopped off at the chippy and the off-licence to eat and drink away the pain of our massive blisters. It may once have been labelled the ‘most boring town in Britain’, but Grange is a cracking place to eat fish and chips. They take their ‘one of each with scraps’ very seriously - probably because there’s not a lot else to do. I recommend eating them on the lovely promenade with great views over Morcambe Bay.
4. Robin Hood’s Bay
This quintessentially English, picture postcard seaside village has become a regular destination since I started organising weekends away at my friends’ hostel, the Old School House (OSH). It overlooks the bay and boasts stunning views of the sea and cliffs. There’s a brilliant chippy at the bottom of the hill. The people in the queue always hate it when my groups roll into town. My huge orders add about half an hour to their wait. I always make sure I get someone else to collect. It's worth the trudge back up the hill to eat them at the OSH. The steep walk is good for the heart and the combination of that view and those fish and chips, is definitely good for the soul. For information and booking details about the OSH click here: https://www.oldschoolhouserhb.co.uk/
3. Criccieth
A gem of a seaside town in North Wales. I spent most of my teenage summers there. Nestling in the shadow of glorious mountains, sea and a terrific castle, it’s difficult not to find a lovely spot to tuck into your haddock and chips. The chippy outside Cadwalders famous ice cream parlour is the best one. The stony beach makes skimming competitions the perfect after-dinner activity. Hyfryd!!
2. Hull
Hull people take their Good Friday chippy tea more seriously than any other place I’ve known. It’s like a religious rite of passage for most Hullensians.
My favourite place to eat them is The Minerva Pub at the end of Hull Marina. The portions are massive and the taste and texture heavenly. We always book the pub's famous ‘smallest pub room in Britain’ to eat ours and then waddle out to watch the sun go down behind the River Hull. A city in love with its fish and chips is my kind of city.
1. Whitby
Loads of great locations to eat your chippy tea in Whitby - by the whalebone, on the pier, sat on a bench overlooking the harbour. If we’re eating in, it’s got to be Trenchers every time. Best fish and chips on the East Coast - and maybe the world. The inevitable queue just adds to the anticipation. Generous portions, high quality fish, chunky chips and lovely staff, this place is, for me, even superior to the most famous chippy in the town, the Magpie restaurant. Whitby is the mecca of quality fish and chips. I can't wait to get back there.
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