The map above shows the regional breakdown of which sauce, topping or condiment is the most popular for chip shop chips in the UK. The results are based on a reddit poll taken between 10-12 February 2018, which resulted in a total of 670 accepted responses.
The options were:
- Cheese
- Curry Sauce
- Chip Sauce (HP Sauce and Vinegar)
- Gravy
- Ketchup
- Mushy Peas
- Mayonnaise or Salad Cream
generalscruff had the following to say about the map:
Observations include a distinct ‘Gravy Belt’ extending further than stereotypically imagined, curving into Mid/West Wales. I was a little surprised to see Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Cheshire be part of this, they are often said to be more Curry Sauce areas.
Likewise, West Yorkshire, County Durham and Tyne and Wear would have been expected to be Gravy areas on this cultural assumption. Oxfordshire was an unlikely addition to the Mushy Peas belt, but we had enough responses to say this probably isn’t an outlier. Cornwall’s association with fish and chips by the sea as a coastal county with a large tourism sector probably explains their membership, while Nottinghamshire, East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire were expected to generally be Mushy Peas areas in any case.
Ketchup was broadly more popular in London and the Home Counties, with some popularity in the South West as well. Cheese did best in remote rural areas such as the Scottish Highlands.
Across the UK (based on the original sample) this was the breakdown by sauce, topping or condiment:
- Curry Sauce – 33%
- Ketchup – 17%
- Gravy – 15%
- Mushy Peas – 10%
- Cheese – 7%
- Other – 18%
What do you like to put on your chips? Leave a comment below:
Neal Champion says
Shamefully, the Isle of Man is missing from this map. This is especially significant, as they have a popular fast food meal of “cheese, chips and gravy”, thus combining two of the options you show elsewhere
Bo Hica says
The Canadians call chips, cheese curds, and gravy “Poutine” – and IT. IS. DELICIOUS.
emily says
it is delicious
Richard Shearing says
Canadians call chips French fries. Cheese curds and gravy on it becomes a Poutine
Patrick Gilliland says
Agreed Poutine is the best. Has to come form a chip truck or stand though, none of this restaurant bs – especially fast food poutine.
Har says
The Isle of Man isn’t in the UK
Simon says
How was vinegar not an option? Makes the whole thing pointless.
John S. Batts says
I share your puzzlement. Solo vinegar would have made sense.
Peter Nicol says
I agree. Northeast Scotland is predominantly vinegar on chips. I remember being shocked to find only brown sauce on chips in Edinburgh (it was a while ago).
Derrick Fenwick says
Salt & Malt!
CM says
What about Tatare Sauce?!
Andrew says
Utter twaddle. This ONLY works by excluding the most common; salt and vinegar.
AllyPally says
There’s a East-West divide in Scotland between salt and vinegar (West) an salt and sauce (East). In the West, vinegar will be offered, but sauce is available. The opposite in the East. As your map does not recognise this division, I can only conclude it’s not valid.
Ross Anderson says
This is only true for Edinburgh. The rest of the East is generally vinegar.
Joe says
Vinegar is an amazing additive that I’ve become accustomed to . Add lemon juice and I am in heaven . Got to have Ketchup ( add a little Tabasco)with my chips (French fries ) too. Here in Los Ángeles Mexican East Side.
Tim Miles says
Though as I learnt from a repeated episode of QI earlier this week, “vinegar” isn’t really vinegar; it’s “non-brewed condiment”.
Andy Aitken says
If the chips are good then just salt.