Fish and Chips on the Isle of Wight

Seaside tradition on the island

Fish and chips is a fundamental part of the seaside experience on the Isle of Wight, and the island has a good selection of chippies serving the traditional dish across all the main towns and resort areas. The combination of fresh sea air, a sandy beach and a portion of battered cod with chips wrapped in paper is as close to the essence of a British seaside holiday as it is possible to get.

Sandown and Shanklin, the island's main resort towns, have the highest concentration of fish and chip shops, serving the steady stream of holidaymakers and day-trippers during the summer months. The Esplanade at Sandown has several options within a short walk, and the queues on a sunny Friday evening are a reliable sign of the season. Shanklin's High Street and the Old Village area also have established chippies with loyal local followings.

Ryde has chip shops along Union Street and near the Esplanade, convenient for visitors arriving on the ferry and wanting something quick before exploring the town. Newport's High Street has everyday fish and chip shops serving the working population. Cowes, Ventnor, Freshwater and Yarmouth all have their own local options.

The island's position surrounded by the sea means that fish is landed locally. Ventnor and Bembridge have small fishing fleets, and crab, lobster and other shellfish are caught in the waters around the island. Some of the better fish and chip shops source their fish locally when the catch allows, though the bulk supply of cod and haddock comes through the national distribution network.

Beyond the standard cod and chips, the island's chippies offer haddock, plaice, rock, sausages, pies, mushy peas, curry sauce and pickled onions. Some have branched out into grilled fish, fishcakes and seafood platters. Prices are in line with the south coast average, with a standard portion of cod and chips typically costing between seven and ten pounds.

The tradition of eating fish and chips on the seafront is deeply embedded in the island's visitor economy. Families sitting on the beach with a portion of chips, seagulls circling overhead, the sound of the waves and the smell of vinegar: it is a scene that has played out on the Isle of Wight for well over a century, and it shows no sign of fading.

The quality of fish and chips varies, as it does everywhere, but the island's best chippies take pride in their batter, their chips and their frying. The traditional method, using beef dripping for frying, is still practised at some establishments, producing a flavour and a crunch that vegetable oil cannot quite match. Mushy peas, curry sauce, pickled onions and bread and butter are the standard accompaniments, and most shops also sell pies, sausages, fishcakes and other options for those who want something different. The island's fish and chip shops are part of a national tradition that stretches back to the mid-nineteenth century, and their continued popularity on the Isle of Wight, where the sea is never far away and the appetite for simple, satisfying food remains strong, shows no sign of waning. The chippies are as much a part of the seaside experience as the beach itself.