An age-old and endless battle. The North vs South is a culture shock for many a student traveling across the M25. But it’s more than accent changes, arguing over slang (is it called tea or dinner?) and debates on whether the midlands is REALLY the midlands.
It’s about the chips.
Whether it’s at your local takeaway after a heavy night out or in a gastropub, you’ve had a portion of fish and chips at some point in your life. But everyone does it differently and we’d love to know how you enjoy yours. We've been taking a look at some of the stats from surveys, and here are the nation's choices... but which are really the best?
The North: Cheesy Chips and Gravy
Gravy is something you’d normally find on a nice Sunday roast, however cheesy chips and gravy is a staple of Northern cuisine and culture. The tasty dish is an essential for many student nights out. In fact, 19% of the Northern population make this their routine serving of choice, but we can guarantee that many more have it as the occasional treat, too.
Despite its bad reputation in the South, the soggy dish is also immensely popular across the pond in Canada. There it’s referred to as ‘Poutine’ and is served with Cheese curd, french fries and heaps of yummy brown gravy.
The Midlands - Orange/Battered Chips
Yes, sounds outlandish. What makes them orange? That’s probably one of the best-kept secrets of Britain.
Orange chips are a peculiar serving option found in The Black Country, an area of The Midlands. Chips are dipped into an orange batter before frying, leaving them with a delightful neon orange crust which punters just seem to gobble up.
Best served with a dollop of ice-cold Ketchup. Ask anyone from The Black Country, Orange chips are the only chips.
The South - Mayo Please?
The South’s love affair with chips can be traced back to the 19th Century when they first slathered their chips with Mayonnaise. The closer you get to the capital, the more people opt for the egg-based condiment, with 26% of Londoners choosing it all the time.
Back to Basics
Despite these culture changes, there are three staple sauces that the nation loves!
43% of the public opt for Ketchup with their chips. 65% have a pinch of salt, 57% cover it with vinegar and 46% do both.
Whatever sauce or serving you choose, chips have been a staple of British culture for decades. Originally a working-class meal, it’s now loved and cherished by chippies, restaurants and gastropubs alike.