Grand old man is still frying high
THERE’S nothing quite like a trip to the chippy and Old Man Greenwoods in Rawtenstall is regularly described by customers as one of the best in the North West.
Based in a small old terraced shop in Bank Street, sandwiched between the UK’s last surviving temperance bar Fitzpatrick’s and the ‘cow shop,’ Old Man Greenwoods isn’t hard to find. Just follow your nose.
Old Man Greenwoods has been providing chippy teas to the people of Rossendale since 1932.
The chippy gets its fish delivered daily from Fleetwood and as well as staples cod and haddock, Old Man Greenwoods lists silver hake, lemon sole, hake, sea bass, mackerel, salmon, monkfish, lobster, crab, prawns, shrimp, cockles, mussels, winkles and crayfish on its extensive menu.
I opted for a small fish and chips while my friend Martin chose a meat and potato pie, chips and peas. I also had a tub of mushy peas - something I always keep separate from my fish and chips to prevent them from de-crisping the chip scraps I love so much.
With two cans of pop, our dinner came to
£10.30.
Old Man Greenwoods offers “locally sourced” steak, meat, meat and potato and cheese and onion pies which Martin said “must be homemade it was so good”.
“It wasn’t like a normal meat and potato pie; it was almost like pieces of steak,” he added.
Adding that he had “never seen a tray as big”
Martin proceeded to eat every last chip and piece of pastry in no time at all; as clear proof as any that he enjoyed it.
My fish was the star of my tray and the batter was absolutely perfect.
Even though I’d ordered a small fish and chips it was still too much for me and Martin’s Doberman Midnight was more than happy to polish off my leftovers.
We both declared (as Midnight would have done too if she could speak) it to be “the best fish and chips” we’ve ever had.
We’ll certainly be making a return trip.