The great chip shop pilgrimage
FISH FANS QUEUE FOR HOURS TO GET A TASTE OF TRADITION
THEY arrived in their shoals to buy traditional fish and chips on Good Friday.
And fried fish lovers followed their noses to end up at a host of chippies across the region.
And, as usual, hundreds of salivating customers lined up at Colmans in South Shields for their Friday fix yesterday.
Rated as one of the best in the country, it’s queues have become legendary, with people waiting up to two hours for their scran.
And on this religious day, when fish is eaten in abundance, we asked, why do they come here for their bait?
Richard Ord, fifth generation of Colmans, says it is their secret batter and quality products that makes his fish and chips so special.
And their 45 staff will serve up over 2,000 fish, five tonnes of chips, 10 gallons of vinegar and five kilos of salt on Good Friday alone.
Richard said: “There were 30 people queueing up outside when we opened today. There will be queues all day and people will wait over an hour to get their fish and chips.
“I am the fifth generation here and people come because of our secret batter recipe – we have the best quality products and use fresh fish where possible. We give a friendly service and they just keep coming back”
For more than 100 years, Colmans has been serving up their grub fresh from the North Sea.
After starting off in a seaside hut in 1905, Colmans has been in Ocean Road for 91 years, throughout which the famous chippy has attracted lengthy lines of “afishionados” who are happy to wait for their traditional seaside delicacy.
Last year, customers waited 90 minutes. In 201,5 they had their brollies out and stood patiently in the rain. If you’ve eaten there, you’ll understand why.
Irish dance teacher Shelley Locklier, 37, was brought up in South Shields but has lived in Las Vegas for the past 19 years. But as soon as she set foot on home soil, she was quick to hot-foot it down to her favourite chippy. She said: “When I come home from Las Vegas I always head to Colmans – I have to get their fish and chips which are the best in the world. Their cod is the best, they do proper fish and chips here that you can’t get in Las Vegas. And I’ll get a helping of mushy peas as well. You simply can’t beat them.”
Paul Degiorgio, 42, of Forest hall, North Tyneside, said: “I have been waiting for half and hour to get in the restaurant but it’s worth it. I’ve been to a few fish and chip shops where I live and they are good, but we thought we would come to South Shields and had to make a trip here.”
Jamie Hodgson, 27,of Esh Winning, County Durham, said: “I have been coming here every Good Friday for the past 10 years or more. They are good quality at a good price, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Lee Brown, 34, from Chopwell, near Gateshead, had been to Dalton Park with his family – wife Gemma, 33, daughter Georgia, 11, and son Callum, seven – when they all got the urge to have fish and chips.
Lee, an Asda worker, said: “Georgia wanted to come to Colmans because she is a fan of Perry in Little Mix who comes from South Shields and she hoped she was going to bump into her. She hasn’t, but they still do the best chips.”