Brits love a queue - or so the legend goes - and it was proved true this week, as one Trafford chippy prepares to close its doors after 30 years of serving the community.
Customers have been queueing for more than two hours to get a final taste of Kong's Fish and Chips in Flixton, as the owners of the eatery hang up their aprons and retire. It's a bittersweet moment for their regulars - many of whom have grown up with the chip shop as a frequent feature in their lives.
Sharon Miskimin, 45, has lived in Flixton all her life. She told the Manchester Evening News that she queued for two-and-a-half hours yesterday evening to get her last ever Kong's chippy tea - but said it was 'well worth the wait'.
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"I've been going there for 30 years - the food is just amazing," she explained. "It's so different to anybody else's, especially the pea fritters, his gravy, his chicken curry. It's just amazing food."
Sharon has fond memories of the chippy from her early years. She told the M.E.N she used to work 'a couple of shops down' from Kong's as a teenager, and would visit often to pick up a delicious hot meal.
The eatery stayed with her as she moved into adulthood and began to visit it not only for her supper, but also for a much-needed bite after a night at the pub. She said she's happy to see the owners retire, but is 'gutted' the shop is closing.
And she isn't the only one. Sharon said the mammoth queues for the chippy started a couple of weeks ago, and haven't let up since. Kong's officially closes its doors tomorrow (Saturday November 5) - so she knew last night was her final chance to order her favourite dishes.
"People in the queue were saying they were going to buy the food and freeze it and sell it - that's how much people love it," she said. "The queues have been massive for the past two weeks, they're going right down the road."
Despite being 'sad to see them go', Sharon wanted to wish the owner a happy retirement and thank him for all the years of delicious takeaways.
"I waited for two and a half hours, but it was well worth it," she told the M.E.N. "Thank you for all the delicious food, and I wish him a happy retirement!"
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