Cerberus Blade
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No mate. I am not Tony of Mosborough, neither am I a friend or relative. I have no "disclosures" to make in that regard.
I went to Westfield School at Mosborough in the 1970's. Like many other kids, I eschewed the school dinner and got a letter from my parents to request an exeat from school to allow me to wander off into the village of Mosborough at lunchtimes to sample the various culinary delights on offer.
A favourite was Davy's bakers, who used to do "Halfie's and chips". This was a loaf, any loaf, pick your own, cut into half and filled with chips - wanton disregard for carbohydrates obviously! But there were 3 other tempting options, the "Pop-in Cafe" - a place where you could get a "Steak Canadien" for example, and some frozen chips. Or, there were 2 very good chip shops then. One was on the main street opposite the church. I can't remember what it was called, but it's under the "Admiral" franchise now and has been for some years. It was run by a lovely lady with hair as pure as driven snow, with a slight hint of a blue rinse. That was another popular choice. And then there was Tony's, on the back street, walking there took another 10 minutes off your lunch break, but for a special treat it was worth it.
Truth be told, I've only really resurrected my affection for Tony's fish and chips in the past couple of years. On starting work, in Sheffield City Centre, my favourite chippy became the Harlequin Chip shop on Howard Street. I was gutted the day that closed down (about 15 years ago now). It was a Sheffield institution and owner Bill Green was a minor celebrity and a very nice man. He would roar, "CHIPS", when a new pan of chips was ready. And the ladies who worked there...oh boy! A mostly elderly crew, proper "Sheffield" they were, kind and eccentric darlings. Eating in meant you got a little pewter tea pot of tea, that came scalding hot and impossible to pour without spilling it, and one and half slices of bread and marg. But their fish and chips were delicious.
Having lived all over the UK and abroad for the past God knows how many years, "fish and chips" has not played a big part in my life tbh. When I was a kid it was just about all I ate. But I do appreciate good, traditional fish & chips - I may have them once or twice a month, quite often on match days. The one I go to most often perhaps is Margaret's, off Whit Moor, near Chesterfield. It's only open at lunchtime and it's a pain queuing up because it's a tiny little place. It can take half an hour to get served, but their quality is excellent. They don't fry in beef fat though.
I think it was something I read on the Sheffield Forum thing a few years ago, under the "best chip shop in Sheffield" where Tony's of Mosborough, had several really positive mentions. I thought to myself..."Wow! is that place still going?" And I decided to give it a try one Saturday lunchtime for a change. As I say, that's within the last 2 years, or 2 seasons to be more precise! It's still very good. Tony has moved on but the lad who's took it on is turning out the same top quality fish and chips and they definitely cook in beef fat. Which means Petunia doesn't like it! But I bloody love it!
