A recent, not too scientific, survey by Hoylake Village Life on facebook, resulted in The Dolphin (pictured) being ranked the No 1 chippy in Hoylake. What do you think of that, a worthy winner or are there just as good chips elsewhere in Hoylake?
While we’re on the subject of fish and chips, I’ve heard a few recommendations for Baxter’s chippy in Moreton (just off Moreton Cross somewhere I think), though I gather they’ve swapped from using beef dripping to vegetable oil.
There must have been several fish and chip shops in Hoylake over the years and I guess some will have been down the side roads like The Dolphin – some old photos would be much appreciated!
Just me, or is anyone else feeling peckish?
When I lived in Hoylake in the 60s Whitelys on Market street did the best chips they also ran a laundrette also on Market street
Agree, by far the best in Hoylake. Been going there is 1981. Biggest portion of chips anywhere.
Dolphin is definitely the best chippy in Hoylake in opinion with Sunflower a close 2nd. If Baxters in Moreton have swapped from beef dripping to veg oil it’s a shame, their chips always taste really nice (even if it did probably clog your arteries up!)
There where only two chippies in Hoylake during the war. One on the High Street between the primary school and the Lighthouse pub. This one was called Fletchers. The other one was about half way up Shaw Street and was considered the best then.
I don’t know if my memory has gone wrong but our family always refered to the chippy in Shaw street as Whiteley’s and their chips were always fresh, hot , crispy and delicious particularly in the wartime newspaper. Mind you, quite a few did not get home, at least, not in the newspaper wrapping.
For those who don’t know, Baxter’s in Moreton is at the start of Upton Road on the left and decorated in blue and white.
you are right Don, Whiteleys was in Shaw Street – used to take the blue and white enamel bowl for 6 penny-worth when I stayed at my grandma’s – she lived on Trinity Road and you could get into her house the back way up the jigger on Shaw Street -happy days!!
W hiteleys chippy where the Dolphin is now,they also owned the one by the primary school which was taken over by Alex waters who did the best chips in town till he retired.
It’s Whiteleys that I remember- nearest to where I lived. Good to see still good chips in those premises.
When Sunflower was Nick’s was the best for me but the Dolphin has always done the best fish!! My son used to go and get the chips from Nick’s and I used to go and get the fish from The Dolphin!!!
I remember going to that chipy on shaw st, i used to enjoy chips and a carton of curry, i can´t afford take out food anymore!!!!
60 years back, lived on Trinity Road and our back “entry” was between two houses fronting Shaw Street,directly opposite Whiteleys. So very convenient for us, and they had great fish and chips even to the last time I visited Hoylake, probably in the mid 1980′s.
This is a question for Bob Mason, did you know of a family on Trinity Rd. named Banks? They lived opposite the church hall in the early fifties. The way you describe going for fish & chips is the way my wife said they did..Maybe this was before your time.
We lived at 20, Trinity. Opposite the “working men’s club”, presumably the old church hall, as it was immediately next door to the church itself. Don’t remember any family named Banks, sorry.,
I live at No. 20 Trinity Road!!
Occasionally, as a special treat on a Friday, we get fish and chips from the Dolphin which undoubtedly are the best in Hoylake.
Have lived in Canada for last 48 years. Next time in Hoylake, Vicki, I must stop in to meet you – and can then compare Dolphin’s chips with how I remember Whiteley’s.
Richard, the Banks family I knew I think lived on Government Road, Barry Banks was a teenage friend of mine.
Of course Whitley’s in Shaw street was the best, especially for “fishbits” and threepence of chips, though Nicks ran a good 2nd in the seventies..
I may be trying to go back to far the Banks family lived on Trinity rd. until 1953, When Wilamena Banks died. Her husband had died earlier than that 1953.
Me back again. Seems like Whiteleys in Shaw street brings back lots of memories for many of us “exiled” Hoylakians. I do remember in the fifties there was a chippy on Market St also- I think down towards Lee Road corner but not sure. we lived in Alderley Rd so it was Whtieleys for us. When I returned with my children to Hoylake in the late 70s – for a year- it was Whiteleys I took them to. We’d lived in Africa and they didn’t know what a fish and chip shop was !!!
Beleive it or not the very first chippy I remember ws ans is still called “Dick Bartons”- not in Hoylake but sure many of you recall Dick Barton on the radio????
Hi, i don´t recall Dick Barton on the radio, was it like today´s billy butler?, I remember shaw st chipy having a aquarium with exotic looking fish in it, last time i was in there about 5 years ago,
Hi! Dick Barton used to be on the radio @ 6.45pm for 15 minutes…used to rush ,in order to listen to the programme! It was replaced, eventually, by the Daring Dexters ( how long did that last?) Sorry, no idea about Billy Butler.. out of touch, as I now live in the States!
Dick Barton was on BBC Mon-Friday at 6.45pm, from 19946 to 1950. Also tv show 15 minute shows in serial form.The 2 dvd show should be avalable at Amazon UK. We got our copy at Amazon Canada This was my wifes altime favorite radio show.
I was disappointed, when I went in Baxters last week to find they had switched to Veg oil. No more making of that trip for me. The chap said that the locals ‘didn’t get it’. As a Yorkshireman I surely did. There are still plenty of beef fat chippies over there. Is there no such tradition here? And if so, what would they have used 40 or 50 years ago?
Does anyone remember the “potato famine” of 1963 when, for a period, a “six” of chips (six old pence) cost ten old pence for a period, and the portions were reduced as well. This was at Whiteleys in Shaw Street. I think the Market Street chip shop had closed by then and become Warbrick’s Electricians, after they were displaced from the Kingsway building.
Normally you could get a “six”, an “eight” or a “nine” of chips. How the servers told the difference between an “eight” and a “nine” I’ve no idea !
Also no sausages, pies, beans, gravy or anything of that sort then !
I remember going to Ferris’s Chippie in Grove Road opposite the park after the matinee at the Winter Gardens for a bag of Bits. those who got there first got the most batter bits, I think they were a penny. Happy Days.
Had totally forgotten Ferris in Grove Road jackie. Thanks for the memory jogger. Still preferred Whiteleys though!
Hi , last time i was in hoylake i recall in grove road a violin repair shop, close to the plasters arms pub, but i can´t remember a chipy in grove rd,
If anyone can find me a chippy on the Wirral using proper beef-fat I’ll send em the price of a fish supper! There’s only one way to fry chips and fish – Yorkshire style in Dripping!
Sorry i don´t know of any chippys that do yorkshire style in dripping , but you could send me the price of a fish dinner anyway please,