A separate survey conducted by YouGov, revealed that London is also amongst the UK’s poshest noshers when it comes to eating the nation’s favourite takeaway; with 46 per cent preferring to eat them off a plate compared to 38 per cent out of the paper or box.
Not surprisingly, amongst the cities surveyed, 87 per cent eat fish and chips from a takeaway. In a further national survey conducted by YouGov, it was found that around two thirds of UK fish and chip eaters add salt (65 per cent ) and vinegar (68 per cent ), over a third (37 per cent ) have mushy peas with their meal and more than half the respondents (52 per cent ) prefer eating fish and chips straight from the paper or box. The seaside emerged as the nation’s favourite location for enjoying the humble dish (31 per cent ), followed by at home on the sofa.
While mushy peas were voted the UK’s top accompaniment, 20 per cent choose curry sauce and the younger generation enjoy the continental habit of adding mayonnaise, with 19 per cent enjoying this addition to their fish and chips.
Andy Gray, of The National Fish & Chip Awards, said: “It’s reassuring that as a nation we still love to eat our fish and chips the old fashioned way with plenty of salt, vinegar and mushy peas.
“However, it’s clear that there are some interesting variations on how people eat their fish and chips depending on where they live; curry sauce in Birmingham, tomato ketchup in Newcastle, gravy in Manchester and salt ‘n’ sauce in Edinburgh. Everyone has an opinion on how and where fish and chips should be enjoyed.”
Nine of the 12 cities surveyed listed tomato ketchup as their favourite condiment after salt and vinegar, with nationally one in every four respondents smothering their chippie portions with red sauce.
Nationally, men eat fish and chips more often than women, with 41 per cent consuming crispy battered fish and piping-hot chips at least once a month, compared with 30 per cent of women.
