Tony Exton's a man who knows his chips. The 68-year-old has racked up visits to nearly 3,000 different chippies in his lifetime - averaging one a week - so he couldn't let it pass when the Cod's Scallops opened just down the road from home.
Tony was the first in the queue when the new chippy in West Bridgford opened its doors today. He said: "Since the age of eight until now this will be my 2, 986th chip shop I've been to all over Britain, Jersey, Spain, everywhere - just 14 to my 3,000th.
"I love chips. I've been to all the chip shops across Nottingham. I have been in a couple of the other Cod's Scallops at Carrington and Wollaton - they are top, the taste of the chips and everything. They're beautiful. Now this is on my doorstep - help me! I've just lost 2st as well."
Read more: Plans submitted for another Hooters restaurant
The upmarket chippy, which has both a takeaway and 38-seater restaurant for eating in, has been purpose built at the new £20m Wilford Lane Retail Park. It's the company's sixth branch, following chip shops in Wollaton and Carrington in Notts, Long Eaton in Derbyshire, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, and Harborne near Birmingham.
Crowned the best fish and chip shop in the UK in 2019, customers have a wide choice of fish, with up to 20 different varieties such as sea bass and salmon and shellfish including oysters and lobster. As well as fish fried in light, crispy batter, there's a healthier, gluten-free option baked in garlic, lemon and herbs.
And even healthier than that is a new addition to the menu of sashimi grade tuna with a superfood salad, prompted by the latest location, sandwiched between two gyms. For something more hearty though there's award-winning homemade pies and spice lovers can't go wrong with samosas and veggie curries from Momma Bains - a collaboration between two Michelin starred chef Sat Bains and his mum.
Second in line when the shop opened at 11.30am was Chris Dancer, of Wilford, who'd got his eye on the samosas for lunch, on the first of two planned visits today. He said: ""For a long time we've had nothing round here - we've been without a chip shop for quite a while. I've actually come to get one of Sat's samosas for a little light lunch.
"We're coming down this evening with our neighbours to have a chip supper. The whole regeneration is very good for Wilford - I know some people oppose it but it creates jobs and I think it's well placed.
"I'm looking forward to buying some fresh fish as well. Again it's something we've not got. Unless we go to West Bridgford to Paolo's or one of the major supermarkets there's no real option in fishmongers these days, so to have a fishmonger on the doorstep is fantastic. It'll be great for those barbecues in the summer.
The verdict of some of the first eat-in customers was "amazing". Jim and Sharyn Edwards, of Clifton, were impressed with their food in the restaurant. Sharyn said: "It was amazing. We've never been to a Cod's Scallops before as it's the other side of town. We didn't realise this was going to be sit-down until a couple of days ago. It's lovely surroundings - they've put a lot of effort into it. I love the crates on the top."
She's referring to the wooden create ceiling which features the names of some of the Cod's Scallops suppliers, amongst them Smales of Hull, who supply Atlantic cod and haddock, and Jonas Shellfish of Cromer, who deliver dress crab and lobster. Adding to the seaside feel of the landlocked chippy are crabbing basket lampshades, wafts of vinegar and soft-serve ice cream cones.
Little tiddlers have their own menu with a mini cod, 'proper fish fingers'' or chicken nuggets - all with chips - served in a seaside-style bucket.
