The fish and chip shop with ‘secret recipe’ that Brits travel hundreds of miles to visit

Things haven’t changed much over the last 70 years at this tiny fish and chip shop (Picture: SWNS)

There’s something so special about eating fish and chips at the beach.

For whatever reason, the classic British dish often tastes better when you can see the sea – and you’re fending off greedy gulls.

But according to some, there’s a spot further inland, in a tiny village in the UK that makes ‘proper’ fish and chips and is an ‘absolute gem’.

The catch is that the shop is only open for six hours a week, which means you’ll likely have to endure a lengthy queue to get your hands on the food.

Upton Fish Shop has been located in the village of Upton, four miles south-east of Gainsborough, since 1948.

Less than 500 people live in the village, but Brits come from all over to try the unique fish and chips, with tourists even flocking to Upton from abroad.

The takeaway spot is one of the world’s last remaining coal-fired fish shops, where haddock and cod are fried in beef dripping.

The chips are all cut by hand, and the batter is said to be made using a ‘secret recipe’ developed more than 65 years ago.

While many love the food, one thing is clear – it won’t be to everyone’s taste.

On the fish shop’s Tripadvisor page, the business has shared a warning for those thinking of visiting.

It reads: ‘This food is cooked and prepared in a style which makes it unique. Some may find this is not to their liking. 

‘If you prefer homologous food, fried to submission in vegetable oil and chips that are “French Fries”, then you won’t enjoy this place.’

This is reflected in the reviews, dozens claim it’s the ‘best’ fish and chips they’ve ever tried. However, some weren’t so keen, finding it disappointing and ‘average’.

‘This food is cooked and prepared in a style which makes it unique’ (Picture: SWNS)

On Google, Kevin Clark recently gave five stars, hailing Upton Fish Shop ‘an absolute gem of a place’ and claiming the food was ‘out of this world’.

He said: We have been wanting to visit for some time and finally made it today. The weather wasn’t great, wet and windy, but it didn’t stop the queues to get inside. We waited around 30 minutes to get to the front and [were] greeted warmly by the staff inside.

‘To say it was the best I’ve ever eaten would not be a lie, and I honestly can not wait to visit again.

‘We travelled from Scunthorpe, so not a million miles, but would happily travel further for them as the taste is out of this world. We will return and bring others with us next time to enjoy the experience.’

People travel to join the queue (Picture: SWNS)

Similarly, Craig Bowness wrote: ‘Hands down the best fish and chips I have ever had the pleasure [of] eating!’

And over on Tripadvisor, Rebecca-Anne shared: ‘By far the best chip shop we have ever been to!!

‘My family and I decided to try this chip shop, it was nearly a 1.5-hour drive, located in a sleepy village. This place is very popular, so we waited in a queue for around an hour! It was well worth every minute of our wait! Wow, the food was incredible! All cooked on a coal range in Beef Dripping.

‘Everything was cooked fresh while we waited. The curry sauce was amazing. Their own recipe. It isn’t chip shop packet curry sauce. Divine.

The shop is only open for six hours a week (Picture: SWNS)

‘The lovely lady who served us has worked there for 64 years, what a legend. It was so nice chatting to her about the history of this quaint little chip shop. Very little has changed in over 70 years, which adds to the character!’

However, not everyone felt the same, as some said the chips were ‘greasy’, and that they were disappointed with the portion sizes.

A reviewer known only as Steve posted: ‘Lovely little fish and chip shop, great novelty experience. Staff very friendly and helpful. But the food quality left a lot to be desired. Overcooked, dry food, which really spoiled the experience.’

Lynn Cobb commented: ‘Really disappointed. Travelled 50 miles as the ratings were so good. Batter and chips were really greasy, and the portion size was small for the money.’

Jason F proclaimed it ‘the greatest disappointment in the fish and chip world’, adding that after a long drive to try it, the fish was ‘so wet’ he thought he’d ‘swallowed a mouthful of the sea’.

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