HUNDREDS of people today queued for HOURS to get their hands on fish and chips being sold for a staggeringly low price.
Mother Hubbard’s chip shop opened a new branch in Sheffield and offered the 45p meals in honour of their original prices in 1972.
The bargain meals created a massive queue stretching through one of Sheffield’s busiest main roads from 10.30am.
Head chef Chris Farnell said: “We are doing this to give something to the community and this is a great way to introduce ourselves and meet our customers.”
The website says a standard portion of fish and chips is normally £8.75.
The deal is available to the first 1,000 customers but staff at the shop have said they’re determined to make sure everyone in the queue gets something to eat.
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The mammoth line started half an hour before the shop was due to open its doors – with Tom Watson, 25, being the first in line for the cheap meal.
Tom, from Lowedges, Sheffield, said: “I saw a friend had posted it on Facebook and I thought why not.
“We are getting 45p fish and chips which is amazing especially with the cost of living at the moment.”
Tables inside the shop have been completely laden with bags of food ready for customers to buy.
Another customer Daniel Gibbons, 60, of Charnock, Sheffield, said: “I think it’s been a really good idea. It brings in interest.
“I am quite familiar with this area and a lot of businesses fail because of their location but this should put these guys on the map.”
The fish and chip branch offered customers the same deal when they launched a shop in East Ham, East London.
More than 2,000 punters were served on the first day — selling £15,000 worth of grub for just £900.
The original owners of Mother Hubbard’s chip shop launched in Bradford in 1972 and it was opened by Coronation Street favourites, Stan and Hilda Ogden.
Head fishmonger, Salih, at another London chippie, Poppie’s Fish and Chips, says he can tell where a customer is from by their order.
The 78-year-old claimed: “People in the north prefer haddock, whereas people in the south prefer cod…. And who can resist a hot chip in newspaper from the takeaway counter?
“In summer months we get more requests for grilled fish and salad than fried fish.”
At Christmas time, the head fishmonger even got asked to deep fry some Quality Street chocolate, and he said strange requests are common.
If you want to create the perfect taste of fish and chips at home, Salih recommended: “Fresh ingredients, excellent suppliers, years of experience, a happy team and happier customers – East-End values!
“Make sure your fish is fresh, batter not too thick and the cooking oil is hot.
“We use only the best vinegar, which is Sarson’s, the best ketchup, which is Heinz, and the best brown sauce which is HP.”
Meanwhile, controversial fish and chip shop in Kent, run by husband and wife Alexander Povalyaev and Natalia Sidorova, shocked customers by serving salad with their portions.
A TikTok created by the duo gathered three million views and 100,000 likes, dividing opinion among users.
One commented: “Is anyone going to mention it? Who has salad with fish and chips?”
However, others defended the chip shop, arguing the benefits of having salad with the meal.
One wrote: “Literally I have salad with anything. Healthy, tastes nice and goes with many things including this.”
