3 days ago
'It is sort of a British institution' - York business shortlisted for award
A YORK fish and chip shop owner whose chippy had a second award nomination from the same voters in as many years said this 'British institution' showed no signs of dying out.
Bish 'n' Chips has been shortlisted by readers of The York Press as one of their top ten chippies in one of the title's most popular competitions.
Readers of the newspaper have the chance to select their overall favourite by posting off a voting slip that features on a page every day until June 14.
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Tom Gibbons has been at the Sim Balk Lane chippy in Bishopthorpe for five and a half years but said the village takeaway has been there for decades.
He said one of his regular customers now in their 60s told him she used to work at the fish and chip shop.
Tom said: 'It's great to be nominated again and humbling, especially with the times that we're living with.
'It's nice that the customers still come down for their weekly fish and chips.'
The business owner said they like to just keep things simple, there's nothing fancy.
He said: 'It's sustainably caught fish and chips, the potatoes come from a farm near Goole and everything is locally sourced.
'We're as busy as ever locally and we cater for the three campsites nearby too.'
Tom explained how his potatoes are 'rumbled' – going into a rumbler which rubs them all against each other so the skins come away.
He said a recent arrival at home demonstrated to him the teamwork from the staff at Bish 'n' Chips.
Tom said: 'I am there less often than previously since the birth of our first child Stella, eight months ago.
'This is a job that can begin with preparation on site at 7.30am and you could end up back home at 9pm some days, so I'm not there as much as I would be normally.
'It's nice to know the team are doing a great job and I would like to say the nomination is down to them.
'I texted Ashley – one of the team – when I heard about the news and said well done to all of the guys.
'He hasn't been here that long but has started to get to know the orders, just like the rest of us.'
Asked what the secret of the survival of the fish and chip shop over the decades, Tom said: 'It is sort of a British institution – I can't ever see it dying.
'The comments I get about Bish 'n' Chips prove that the chippy has stood the test of time.
'Yes, coming through you get more choice of cuisine for your meals and people lamenting the prices, but when you break down an order, it's the smallest list of ingredients and everything is cooked to order.'
