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Scotland’s oldest fish and chip shop is still delighting diners after nearly 150 years

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Scotland’s oldest fish and chip shop is still delighting diners after nearly 150 years

The beloved British classic of fish and chips isn’t as traditional as many might assume. It emerged in the 1860s when fried fish met fried chips, creating a new ‘fast food’ sensation for the industrial era’s workforce.

It’s thought that the first true fish and chip shop was the Enterprise Supper Bar in Mossley, near Manchester, though it no longer exists. Today, the title of the oldest continuously operating chippy is claimed by Rock and Sole Plaice in London’s Covent Garden, established in 1871.




The fish and chip phenomenon reached Scotland thanks to Belgian immigrant Edward De Gernier, who began selling ‘frites’ at Dundee’s Greenmarket in 1874. By 1888, he had opened a shop in the Overgate, offering what The Courier hailed as the “now fashionable edible, the chip potato”.

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In Glasgow, 1875 saw the Beltrami family introduce The Swiss Restaurant on London Road, adjacent to Glasgow Cross. Acquired by the Corvi family in 1938 and renamed Val d’Oro, this establishment has remained in their hands ever since.

Val d’Oro is celebrated as Glasgow’s most venerable fish and chip shop and, according to the Scottish Express, is probably the oldest in Scotland. Another historical contender is Corvi’s in Bo’ness, dating back to 1896, reports the Scottish Daily Express.

The Glasgow chippy has a long history. For many years, Luigi Corvi – an experienced tenor known for serenading Celtic fans with Italian opera before matches at Parkhead – managed it.

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