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.

His performances were noteworthy to the point where he was invited to sing at the Scottish Parliament’s opening by Queen Elizabeth in 2011.

The shop walls are a testament to his heritage, covered in family photos. In a conversation with The Scotsman back in 2010, Corvi revealed: “That’s my Uncle Guido on the day he came back from the war. That’s my father’s cousin Pierino who met his girl here in the shop. And that’s Frank Sinatra, a member of everyone’s family.”

You can spot him behind the counter even today, as evident from a YouTube video capturing one such performance during the lockdown in April 2020. TripAdvisor rating show that Val d’Oro still enjoys immense popularity.

A customer visiting in May 2024 gave the establishment glowing praise, stating: “We spoke with the owner in the afternoon and couldn’t wait to come back for dinner. Everything was just as he promised but even better! The freshly cooked haddock portions were a great size and we couldn’t eat all of the chips. His prices are by far the best around.”

A visitor from New York City visited the cafe in May 2024, stating: “I love this place. It’s like stepping back in time in the best way possible. Their ice cream is sooooooo good and you cannot beat their prices anywhere around the area. Just to top it off, the staff (especially the owner) are the sweetest people ever. 10/10 love it”.