Poppies Chippies Unveils Secrets of Britain's Iconic Fish and Chips

As of September 26th, 2025, the iconic British dish of fish and chips is still celebrated as the nation's culinary pride, deeply rooted in tradition. However, the Poppies chippie chain, with four locations across London, has now lifted the veil on some of the industry's best-kept secrets.

While other fast-food establishments may tempt customers with "secret" menu options, the legendary fish and chip trade operates quite differently. Poppies, named after its founder Pat 'Pops' Newland, who joined the business at age 11, has revealed that one item they would never order is the traditional jellied eels. Despite being a popular dish since the 18th century, the Poppies crew admits that it can be "quite a demanding bite" for those new to the delicacy.

In contrast, the undisputed favorites among Poppies' patrons are cod and chips, which the team reports are requested "all day long." In fact, an impressive 70% of Londoners prefer cod over other fish varieties. This preference is likely due to Poppies' commitment to using only fresh, sustainably sourced fish, unlike many other fish and chip shops that rely on frozen fillets.

As for the perfect accompaniment, mushy peas reign supreme as the bestselling side, even trumping curry sauce and gravy. To satisfy this demand, Poppies' kitchens peel an astounding 13 tons of potatoes weekly to create the 40,000 chip portions purchased by over 10,000 Londoners each week.