We tried the fish and chips from Leeds’ oldest chippy in millionaire village where Leeds United stars have been known to become regulars.
If the chip shop is a favourite for the likes of Stuart Dallas, Peter Lorimer and Alan Clarke, we had to give it a go. Nestled between the leafy country lanes and enormous mansions, Shadwell Village Fish Shop is located on Main Street in the oldest building in the upmarket community.
The chip shop is in a stone-built cottage. It's quaint and has a wholesome atmosphere. The cottage was built in 1637 and has been operating as a chip shop since 1911.
Read more: Locals torn on whether Harehills is a 'holiday resort' for street drinkers
There’s a bench outside for waiting customers to sit on and lots of outdoor plants spiraling across cobbled stone wall, which is a nice touch and accentuates to the serene chocolate box atmosphere.
The shop has a friendly vibe, the pair serving were jovial and chatty. I observed as they offered a child a chip on a stick to nibble on while they waited for their family's order to be made – which is by all accounts a tradition in the chip shop, dating all the way back to the 1970s.
I went for the meal deal which costs £9.85 and includes a considerable amount of food, bearing in mind the rise of fish prices during the economic crisis. This includes haddock and chips, a breadcake, either mushy peas or curry sauce – I chose the curry sauce – and a drink, of which there were lots of options including cans of pop, water and a bottle of juice.
The portion of fish and chips was quite generous. The fish had a lovely golden batter and the chips were really nice and chunky. I liked how the young woman behind the counter allowed me apply the salt and vinegar as well. Too often you go to a shop and they overload the food with seasoning - not in Shadwell!
It was a good chunky fillet of haddock which tasted sweet, salty and fresh. The layer of batter wrapped around the fish was thick and crispy, even after a car journey it retained that crispiness which can so often turn soggy in the box. The chips were soft with a crisp edge, I usually like them slightly crunchier, but they were very enjoyable.
The curry sauce had a sweet tang with a Chinese style spicy edge. Former Leeds United star Pontus Jansson is said to have chugged down a whole cup of it and I couldn't help but knock back a little myself.
I was really satisfied with my meal and would almost certainly visit again if I found myself wandering through Shadwell.
Read next:
- Roxy Lanes review: We try Leeds' new gaming haven which serves indulgent pizzas and cocktails
- Leeds has a new best restaurant on Tripadvisor as people rave about the 'authentic' food and great service
- I tried Vietnamese gluten free food in Leeds Trinity Kitchen and it's changed my outlook on life
- Meat:Stack review: We tried the new Leeds burger joint and it beat Five Guys
Get the latest Leeds food, drink and shopping news with our Best in Leeds newsletter
