Fish and chips served 1950s style

Amazingly it is actually hard to find fish and chips done to championship level in London, but there are a few options I think merit a stab if this is your bag. Poppie’s is one of them and this is a chain of just 3 (Soho, Camden and the original window stall in Spitalfields) and this branch in Camden certainly is the largest. I understood why there is usually such a long queue outside when I was finally in being served by people dressed in 1950s attire with 50s music in the background with a charmingly laid back atmosphere (see expansion button for more on this). The haddock itself had good flavour and pleasing batter cooked in vegetable oil, as were the chips. Tartare sauce was reportedly homemade, however, I believe the ketchup is from Heinz and placed into Poppie’s little containers. The price of £13.95 for the regular Haddock and chips was very competitive, considering this would be on average £15-20 in a higher-end pub or venue in central London.

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Poppies takes its name from the owner Pat ‘Pop’ Newland, from the Eastend of London and has been in the fish and chips industry since he was 11 years old, folding and cutting parts of the Daily Mail for fish and chips to be served in. His love of that period in time in the 50s has steered him to choose over 1000 songs from that era as the music in the background of the shop and I loved the way that the staff behind the counter are dressed as old school fish traders and the staff are more formally dressed as in partial throwback to the 1950s.

My singing waiter gave the atmosphere a breeziness that was lovely to experience and the feel of the restaurant was a pleasant surprise. This is its uniqueness and whilst there are some other good fish and chips options in London, they will not have this pleasant add on. Speaking of which, other decent fish and chips options one can try I would say are Bibendum’s Oyster Bar, Scott’s in Mayfair, The Mayfair Chippy and if you are happy paying £29 (as at Oct 19) for it as a small dish, Kerridge’s bar and Grill The Corinthia (down from its £36.50 original opening price).

Nice touches here include the fact that the fish comes to Poppies fresh (not frozen) and is filleted every day by the same, stalwart fishmonger in house who has been doing it for Poppie for many years. Do try Poppie’s if you fancy some decent fish and chips for a reasonable price in quirky and a charming setting.

Food Grade: 64%