Poppies Restaurant in Spitalfields’ is the only London chippie to secure a place in the final of the National Fish and Chip Awards 2013. Now EastLondonLines is launching a Twitter competition to find the best fish and chip shop in its four boroughs. Tweet your faves to @eatlondonlines.
The east end 1950’s themed restaurant and takeaway made it to the top three and will compete against finalists from Whitby and Devon.
Owner Pat Newland, 70, who goes by the nickname ‘Pops’, told ELL that since opening the restaurant 18 months ago his “dreams have come true”.
Newland, who has always lived in the east end, said his food is so great because the fish are “ fresh and sustainable” as a result of being sourced daily from Billingsgate market in Poplar.
After finding out he was in the top three in the ‘Independent Fish and Chip Restaurant of the year’ category, Newland was “overwhelmed” and was “very proud” of his staff, who didn’t know that the restaurant was competing for the title.
The competition included two mystery shops in which a judge came to the restaurant unannounced and undercover. The first mystery visit placed Poppies as the only London entry in the top ten, and in the second round they made it into the top three.
He said: “It’s great when you hear positive feedback about your staff and you can give them a pat on the back.
“Anyone can be on their toes when they have to make a good impression, but because they didn’t know it means I can sleep well at night knowing the boys and girls who work here are doing the right thing.
“I’m proud and I can put my name to this.”
ELL reporter Lauren Powell has been Poppies on many occasions. She said: “I have never been disappointed. The food tastes great and I love that the restaurant has a retro vibe.
“The takeaway queue can be very long at times especially on Sundays because of Brick Lane market and because of its great reputation. I’m happy to hear that its been nominated as I think its great food should be recognised.”
Earlier this year two EastLondonLines reporters went to try Poppies’ fish and chips, find out what they thought here.
Celebrities, including Danny Boyle, Rob Brydon and Olympic hurdler Gemma Bennett, have eaten at Poppies since it opened.
Newland opened the chip shop because he had previously struggled to find anywhere in east London where he could take his family out for good quality fish and chips. So he opened a business that “caters for all and is affordable” while delivering a “no nonsense, friendly and quick” service.
Poppies’ offers a takeaway or eat in service, which, according to Newland, leaves no one feeling alienated. He said: “People can sit down with a piece of grilled fish or they can rush through with their kids”.
The restaurant caters for both tourists and locals and has previously taken booking from tourists from all over the world, including Korea and Australia.
The winners of the National Fish and Chip Awards 2013 will be announced in January at the Lancaster London Hotel.
The competition was organised by Seafish, the government authority on seafood, which supports the UK industry for a sustainable, profitable future.
EastLondonLines now wants to find what you think is the best fish and chips in Lewisham, Hackney, Croydon and Tower Hamlets. Tweet us @eastlondonlines with nominations and comments.
