Fish and chips are the staple of British cuisine. Wherever you are in Dear Old Blighty, you can guarantee that a fish and chip shop just around the corner from you is glowing in the dark.
Growing up in the Black Country, I would like to think I’ve tried the best fish and chips has to offer. In the West Midlands, orange chips are at the top of my chip shop income and with every bite I would exclaim: ‘It couldn’t be better!’
That was until I found out Papa’s in Blackpool is considered the best chippy in the UK.
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Opened in 1966 in Hull, Papa’s has served the public their secret recipe for dough for decades.
In 2015 Papa’s won the World’s Largest Fish & Chip Shop title for its Hull restaurant, before winning Britain’s Best Fish & Chips two years later in a televised BBC search for the best national chippy.
So papas have an impressive array of accomplishments – but what are their mighty fish like?
First off, this is the fanciest chippy ever
The inside of a chip shop is yours to make whatever you want out of it.
I’m never disappointed to see the beam of a large heated counter at the front, or maybe a large octopus and smiley fish on the wall for decoration – but that’s not what Papa is about. Papas is chic.
Papa’s Blackpool
Inside, Papa’s is something out of an old, elegant movie. The floor around the bar is made of shiny black and white checkered tiles and the bar is looked down by a variety of healthy looking plants.
It’s the kind of place you’d expect to have a Michelin-acclaimed meal, not fish and chips. Bravo papa’s, you got me good.
The menu was huge and totally tempting
You don’t really expect to be amazed by the question: what do you want with the chippy? But with papa it will be you.
Their menu was huge. It had vegetarian options, starters, desserts, side dishes, and a variety of alcoholic and soft drinks.
His most popular dishes, made famous by the BBC and its many, many awards, have been so marked.
For our start we had to try their award-winning Battered Halloumi, which has been dubbed “Papa’s Famous”. It cost £ 4.99 and is described as “three pieces of halloumi drizzled with honey and served with a salad garnish”.
Papa’s Halloumi
Let me tell you, Papa’s Battered Halloumi is the best I have ever eaten. My mouth is watering even when I write about it.
‘Why doesn’t everyone smear halloumi with honey?’ I would exclaim when I really devoured every piece. This is genius.
Our starter was so good that we packed it up and brought it back to Schloss Norbreck to remember something good from our stay.
Aside from halloumi, there is so much to offer at Papa’s and your appetizer is just the beginning.
The secret recipe for dough
Bad fish and chips are usually bad because the batter tastes like cardboard. But Papa’s prides itself on knowing that the original recipe is a winner.
I ordered the large cod and fries for £ 10.99, served with a lemon wedge and bread on request. We also added pea puree and curry sauce to give preference to dipping.
The fish and chips at Papa’s Blackpool
I want to ask Papa’s if the big fish is classified as large rather than “massive”, how big is the giant haddock priced at £ 14.99? Is it a whale?
I really have no complaints about the dish or the overall experience. The staff loved the food they served and I was excited to eat there.
It was extraordinary and now I’m scared of my next visit to a chip shop other than Papa’s.
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