{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":" Words: Aimee-lee Abraham | Pictures: Liz Seabrook","standfirst":"It\u2019s not the most adventurous thing Scouts get up to, but it remains a firm favourite. On a sunny day this summer, we took a stroll with 4th Barry Beavers to take a bite out of every chip on the promenade, and find out why the Scout Chip Shop Survey remains so enduringly popular","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/3924/scoutmagazine_barryisland_chipshops_selects_dscf2498.jpg","width":2250,"height":1688,"altText":"A group of Beavers are outside by the sea. They\u0027re sat on some steps eating chips together, posing for the camera","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow it works\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe rules are simple. The rewards are plentiful and delicious. To conduct a Chip Shop Survey, young people put on their judging hats, assemble their clipboards, and hike from storefront to storefront, purchasing a single bag of chips from each, or bartering for freebies.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAt the end, a winner is crowned based on a total score. Scouts rate things like taste, value and service, then hone in - assessing the degree of newspaper-stained sogginess in painstaking detail, or voting with their gut. Here\u2019s how the Barry Beavers got on.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/3925/scoutmagazine_barryisland_chipshops_selects_dscf2324.jpg","width":2250,"height":1688,"altText":"A group of Beavers tuck into a plate of chips in a sit-down restaurant.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChip shop no.1: O\u2019sheas\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EEstablished in 1946 by the current owner\u2019s grandfather, O\u2019shea\u2019s is a local treasure. Just yards away from the beautiful sandy beach of Whitmore Bay, it offers uninterrupted views across the Bristol Channel. See for yourself by taking a look at their webcam.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENoah:\u003C/strong\u003E The people who work here are very nice. The chips are really fluffy.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIoan:\u003C/strong\u003E I like them.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESaxxon:\u003C/strong\u003E I love them.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERhys:\u003C/strong\u003E I hate them.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVerdict (Beavers):\u003C/strong\u003E Friendly staff and a golden fluffiness that is almost universally praised. They get a bonus point for the eco-friendly packaging, but there\u2019s no sauce.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVerdict (adults):\u003C/strong\u003E A strong start, but the chips are a little pale for our personal taste.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERating (Beavers):\u003C/strong\u003E 5/5\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/3926/scoutmagazine_barryisland_chipshops_selects_dscf2370.jpg","width":2250,"height":1688,"altText":"A group of Beavers are sharing a box of chips, passing them across the table to each other.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChip shop no.2: Boofy\u2019s \u00A0\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ERun by a mysterious figure known as \u2018The Codfather\u2019, Boofy\u2019s was featured in the hit BBC sitcom Gavin and Stacey. Almost a decade since the show ended, it remains popular with the show\u2019s fans, who come from far and wide to sample their traditional curry sauce, then have a go on Nessa\u2019s neighbouring slot machines.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENoah:\u003C/strong\u003E These are very nice, but way too hot. They burn your hands.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESaxxon:\u003C/strong\u003E I can\u2019t tell the difference between these and the first ones. \u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENoah:\u003C/strong\u003E I know the difference! This place makes them crispier than the other place!\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERhys:\u003C/strong\u003E I like both of them.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENoah:\u003C/strong\u003E These are the nicest but the ugliest. They\u2019re a weird dark brown colour and there are lots of small crispy bits everywhere. Chips are supposed to be yellow.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERhys\u003C/strong\u003E: Imagine there was a battle between the two shops. Like if they had a fight!\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBatty:\u003C/strong\u003E There is a battle, Beavers. You decide who wins, remember?\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAll:\u003C/strong\u003E What?\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVerdict (Beavers): \u003C/strong\u003EQuestionable in colour and in temperature. Delicious nonetheless.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVerdict (adults): \u003C/strong\u003EA delightful seaside view, unpretentious service and plenty of salty scraps to savour at the bottom of the bag. The Beavers don\u2019t seem to appreciate these as much as we do, but they gave them five stars anyway.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/3927/scoutmagazine_barryisland_chipshops_selects_dscf2420.jpg","width":2250,"height":1688,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChip shop no.3: John\u2019s Caf\u00E9\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFamed for its ice cream sundaes with all the trimmings, John\u0027s first opened its doors in 1927, and is one of the oldest cafes in Wales. In 2014, it made national news when the letter \u0027e\u0027 disappeared from the storefront during a storm, forcing the owner\u0027s to temporarily trade as \u0027John\u0027s Caf\u0027 until the signage was replaced the following summer.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENoah:\u003C/strong\u003E These are the best ones. They give you a fork, which is good. I kept burning my hands on the others ones. Way too hot!\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERhys:\u003C/strong\u003E Mayonnaise!\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHafwen:\u003C/strong\u003E These ones are fluffier. But they\u2019re slippery.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETigger:\u003C/strong\u003E Slippery? Do you mean that they\u2019re a bit greasier than the others?\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESaxxon\u003C/strong\u003E: We didn\u2019t get sauce earlier. Here, you can have as much as you want. And everyone\u2019s nice.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ERhys: I like the sauce, but you can\u2019t eat them outside. Chips are nice on the beach. If the seagulls come, we\u2019ll karate chop them. I used to do kickboxing but now I do karate instead. I\u2019ve done three matches. My mum\u2019s a black belt, you know. Nobody messes with my family.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVerdict (Beavers): \u003C/strong\u003EMayonnaise, freebies, forks. These details might seem insignificant, but they give John\u2019s an edge over their competitors.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOverall verdict (adults): \u003C/strong\u003EGenerous portions and cheering atmosphere. Gingham tablecloths. Proper napkin holders. It\u2019s comforting, like walking into your Nan\u2019s house, but give us takeaway boxes and sand in our shoes any day.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERating (Beavers)\u003C/strong\u003E: 5/5\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/3928/scoutmagazine_barryisland_chipshops_selects_dscf2470.jpg","width":2250,"height":1688,"altText":"Four Beavers pose for a photo with a statue of a giant cone of chips. One of the Beavers is leaning up on his tip toes with his mouth wide open, pretending to eat the statue.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChip shop no.4: Finnegan\u2019s Inn\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ELocated opposite Barry Island\u0027s legendary pleasure park, Finnegan\u0027s Inn was first established as a nightclub in 2000. Today, it\u0027s a bustling bar and restaurant \u003Cspan\u003E\u2013 \u003C/span\u003Ehome to world-class cabaret acts, and proud sponsor of the Glastonbarry festival.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIoan:\u003C/strong\u003E These took forever.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENoah\u003C/strong\u003E: In Boofy\u0027s it was burning\u00A0my mouth. The fat chip I was eating was the fattest one in the bag. It was even hotter than the rest of them. These are really nice. They\u2019re a better temperature, I think.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERhys:\u003C/strong\u003E These are nice but not my favourite. When I went on holiday I went to Tokyo. We tried everything like today, but with sushi instead of chips. I ate a deadly pufferfish. Luckily, the chef knows where the toxic bits are so I didn\u2019t die. I like chips, but they\u2019re a bit boring compared to pufferfish.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVerdict (Beavers):\u003C/strong\u003E They might have taken too long to cook, but they were gone in micro-seconds, despite being the last on the list.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVerdict (adults):\u003C/strong\u003E Finnegan\u2019s is a pub that serves chips, not a chip shop. This caused immediate scepticism among the adults, but we were wrong to judge.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERating (Beavers)\u003C/strong\u003E: 5/5\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/3929/scoutmagazine_barryisland_chipshops_selects_dscf2394.jpg","width":2250,"height":1687,"altText":"Five Beavers pose with a chip shop mascot for a photo. They\u0027re smiling and pulling silly faces at the camera.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003ESo, what makes the best chip?\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EExact chip shop preferences are a highly personalised thing, like a toothbrush or a fingerprint. But there are some criteria almost everyone can agree on...\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EWe consulted \u003Cstrong\u003EElla Risbridger\u003C/strong\u003E \u2013 award-winning food writer, cook, and chippie connoisseur \u2013 for some tiptop advice on what Scouts should look out for.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOn the ideal vessel\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EChips taste best wrapped in paper, but a small cardboard box is acceptable if seagulls are likely to pose a problem. No cones, ever. It\u2019s too hard to get the crispy bits out of the bottom.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOn atmosphere and presentation\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EAtmosphere is more important than presentation, and details matter. My ideal chip shop is small and slightly dirty, with one of those electric lights that zap flies, and regulars who linger to talk cryptically about local gossip.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOn condiments\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EI recommend salt, vinegar (sparing but present), and ketchup. In that order. What can I say? I\u0027m a traditionalist.\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOn proper chippies vs improper chippies\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThere\u2019s a quantifiable difference between chicken-shop chips and chippy chips, and blurring the lines between them will skew the results.\u00A0Stick with the institutions that serve only chips, for fairness. And never eat-in. Chips are an outside food. They should ideally be eaten while looking at the sea, wearing two fleeces and sitting on a raincoat.\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOn temperature\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EEat the chips as soon as they\u2019re put into your hand. Cold chip shop chips are an acquired taste. Reheated chip shop chips are unspeakable. If you ever meet somebody who likes reheated chip shop chips, run.\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EElla\u2019s debut cookbook \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/midnight-chicken-9781408867761/\u0022\u003EMidnight Chicken\u003C/a\u003E \u2013 published by Bloomsbury\u00A0\u2013 is available now.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"04 October 2019","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[],"relatedLinks":[],"id":40245,"nodeName":"The Great Scout Chip Shop Survey","title":"The Great Scout Chip Shop Survey","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/3928/scoutmagazine_barryisland_chipshops_selects_dscf2470.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1d9becd31b61550","caption":"Chip shop survey 6","type":"jpg","size":3070958,"width":2250,"height":1688,"altText":"Four Beavers pose for a photo with a statue of a giant cone of chips. 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