Does Deep Blue deliver on the ‘Great British Fish and Chips’ it advertises - this is what I think

Deep Blue fish and chips at Main Street, Brandesburton
-Credit: (Image: Deborah Hall/Hull Live)


A fish and chip shop not far from where I live has been frying up the nation’s favourite fast food for decades.

Under a number of different names, it has served the local community and summer visitors “just passing through” for all of the near 30 years I’ve lived in the locality, and before that. As the ownership has changed over time, I’ve had differing experiences of the fish and chips here, if I’m honest.

In more recent years, the chippy in Main Street, Brandesburton, has borne the branding of Deep Blue, a chain that bills itself as the nation’s largest community of fish and chip restaurants and takeaways. Deep Blue says on its website: “We’re Britain’s favourite because we stick to what we do best; Great British Fish & Chips, served with care.”

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It’s not an every-week go-to but for an occasional treat, there’s nothing like a chippy tea. On an early Friday evening in August, wanting a quick tea that needed zero preparation, I found myself in a small queue outside Deep Blue.

There were plenty of staff on (this chip shop has a restaurant attached too), frying, serving and manning the till, so it wasn’t long before I was able to give my order. I wanted a small fish and chips, and a portion of mushy peas and a sage and onion patty as sides.

'Small' fish and chips with mushy peas and a sage and onion patty from Deep Blue, Brandesburton
'Small' fish and chips with mushy peas and a sage and onion patty from Deep Blue, Brandesburton -Credit:Deborah Hall/Hull Live

Some customers were sensible and, after paying, headed back outside on such a warm night to await the fulfilling of their orders. I turned the other way and found myself crammed into a space at the end of the counter, next to the fridge of cold drinks, and feeling partly in the way.

I could hear lots of big orders being prepared (I imagined large families of holidaymakers sitting down to their fish and chip suppers in one of the number of lodge sites that are nearby) but was surprised how soon the number on my takeaway order was called out. Helpfully, the corresponding number goes up on a display behind the counter, a bit like when you need to collect an item in Argos.

I didn’t really get chance to see what was being placed in the sheets of paper before the swiftly-wrapped parcel was put in a large paper bag with the Deep Blue branding on, a good and sturdy way to transport the food home in the car without any greasy leakage. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I undid the wrappings at home.

The “small” fish would be at least a regular/medium size by most people’s standards; the portion of chips was enormous, but they did look good, while the sage and onion patty had been deep-fried to perhaps a slighter darker crisp than I would have chosen. There was so much food me and my partner shared, with the addition of some bread and butter.

Deep Blue fish and chips at Main Street, Brandesburton, is a takeaway and restaurant
Deep Blue fish and chips at Main Street, Brandesburton, is a takeaway and restaurant -Credit:Deborah Hall/Hull Live

I’m not the hugest fan of batter but this was good, light and crispy, so I ended up eating all of what was on my apportioned piece of white and flaky cod. The chips were “proper” chip-shop chips, chunky and fried to perfection – there were so many we couldn’t manage them all between us.

The patty was tasty and very sage-y, which I like. However, there will never be a patty to compare with those of Hull’s Crimlis chippies of old, in my opinion. The onions were apparent as little chunks, rather than just being minced into the body of the patty, which was also enjoyable.

At a few pennies under £13, this fish and chip tea wasn’t the cheapest. But it ended up filling two people and was a tasty, good-quality meal.