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Fight of the Fish & Chips: Mayfair Chippy vs Poppies
This edition serves up fish‐and‐chips rivalry, a provocative art series on addiction, the glamorous Rosewood Chancery launch, and sun‐kissed corners of Sicily.
Shakira Taylor
August 26, 2025
In partnership with
Hey Culture Clubbies!
In under 10 minutes, we’ll cover:
The great fish & chips face‑off: Mayfair Chippy vs Poppies
Why Do We Take Drugs? – a thought‑provoking art season at the Sainsbury Centre
Rosewood Chancery: London’s grand new hotel
Spotlight on Sicilian seaside serenity
Let’s dive in.
Fight of the Fish & Chips: Mayfair Chippy vs Poppies
Few British exports stir nostalgia and pride like fish & chips. But in London, two spots offer markedly different takes on the classic dish. Let’s compare the posh comfort of Mayfair Chippy with the kitschy charm of Poppies—examining fish, chips, sides, and overall vibes.
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Mayfair Chippy — Posh, Clean, Confident
Tucked into Knightsbridge, Mayfair Chippy disguises itself as casual—but step inside and you’ll find train-car booths, tiled floors, and a cultivated warmth that feels uniquely upscale
Mayfair Chippy
The food
The Fish arrives feather-light, batter rebounds with gentle crispness, and inside, the cod or haddock flakes melt under the gentle tap of your fork. This is fish done with restraint and precision, both light and satisfying.
The Chips arrive pillowy soft inside, golden crisp outside—the kind of chip that resets expectations for texture.
Sides are elevated: tartar sauce with capers, well-balanced coleslaw, and deep‑green mushy peas that add nostalgia. Lovers of gravy or curry sauce aren’t disappointed—both options balance rather than overwhelm.
Starters show off inventive flair: Cornish salt‑and‑pepper squid with Thai‑inspired dip, and a scotch egg wrapped in kedgeree flavors prove playful yet smart twists on British comfort. The menu even features a soft‑shell crab burger and indulgent lobster mac & cheese.
Ambience & Price: Smart‑casual elegance and top-tier hospitality. Expect to spend around £25 for fish & chips plus sides—well worth the polish and consistency.
In short: fish & chips for those who appreciate craft, comfort, and context.
Poppies Fish & Chips — No‑Frills, Reliable, Retro‑Kitsch
Step into Poppies and you’re in a world of 1950s memorabilia, tiled counters, and television‑style nostalgia. The vibe leans joyful, honest, and unpretentious.
Poppies
The Food
The Fish is fried to order daily using fresh cod, leading to a crisp, golden shell with steamy, flakey flesh inside. It’s simple, satisfying, and dependable.
The Chips are thick and hearty, with crunchy exteriors and soft, potatoey interiors—like what you remember from childhood chippies.
Sides hew to tradition. Mushy peas are always there, pleasantly creamy. Curry sauce adds a nostalgic, comforting heat. Jellied eels appear sporadically—workers acknowledge they wouldn’t order them themselves, but customers can’t resist the throwback novelty
Despite its charm, Poppies can be inconsistent. One reviewer described a solo visit as “mediocre,” citing indifferent service and occasional missing menu items like desserts. Yet many laud it as delivering the “best fish suppers in town” with food that’s “all business” beneath the kitsch.
Takeaway: Poppies is pure tradition—nostalgic, reliable, and urgent in its charm.
The Verdict
Mayfair Chippy is for the modern diner who respects classic British comfort with polish, new riffs, and a sprinkle of elegance.
Poppies is for traditionalists and nostalgia chasers: sea-worthy portions, vintage atmosphere, and timeless dependability.
Whether you’re after dining theatre or a dependable chippy classic: London delivers the best of both worlds.
Why Do We Take Drugs?
The Sainsbury Centre in Norwich is unpacking a global curiosity in its upcoming art season: Why Do We Take Drugs? The multi-installation exhibition explores humanity’s complex chemical relationship, ranging from caffeine and alcohol to ayahuasca and heroin. It spans through interconnected shows that trace this narrative across cultures and history.
Artwork included in the show
One highlight is Towards the Weird Heart of Things—a site-specific sculptural series by Lindsey Mendick. Crafted from hemp, straw, hay, sheep’s wool, and timber, the installation visualizes raw, organic responses to altered consciousness. Mendick’s tension-filled, irreverent ceramics and her framing of drug culture in ritual and bodily experience add emotional nuance to the narrative.
This isn’t just sensationalism. It’s a bold critique of societal norms—when do we condemn, and when do we legitimize? The exhibition asks whether there are “right” ways to use drugs, versus entrenched taboos. Through both traditional media and experimental forms, it nudges visitors to question their own assumptions.
Running into April 2026, the series feels urgent—an anthropological reckoning through artistic language. It’s simultaneously shameless, empathetic, and unapologetically human. Worth a mid‑week cultural visit—and a conversation that’s just beginning.
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London’s Next Big Opening: The Chancery Rosewood
Rising on Grosvenor Square, The Chancery Rosewood officially opens its doors in late summer 2025—transforming the former US embassy into a lush, art-infused urban retreat.
Designed by Sir David Chipperfield, with interiors by Joseph Dirand, the Grade II-listed modernist building retains its iconic eagle-topped facade while unveiling serene, spacious interiors. Suites begin at ~£1,400/night, some soaring to £60,000 for royal-level penthouses.
Dining includes Carbone (the UK debut of the A-list New York Italian spot), Serra (sun-soaked Mediterranean brasserie), GSQ deli for locals, and an elegant Eagle rooftop bar. A 700-piece art collection includes works from Peter Blake and David Hockney; guests can meet the “art concierge” for access to local galleries and studio visits.
Nestled in modernizing Mayfair, The Chancery bridges Cold War legacy and contemporary luxury. Packages focus on creativity, hospitality, and a loosened timetable—like no set check-in and check-out, emphasizing comfort over schedules.
A beacon of high design, curated art, and refined hospitality, this opening redefines what luxury looks like in a post‑modernist capital.
Travel spotlight: 3 Under the Radar tips for Sicily
Eat:
In Syracuse, snack on arancini alla Norma—fried risotto balls filled with eggplant, ricotta, and tomato—at a roadside bar, with a crisp local white.
Valle dei Templi
Explore
Hike through the ancient olive groves to the Valle dei Templi outside Agrigento: Greek columns glowing in harsh sunlight feels almost elemental.
Giardini della Villa Comunale
Hidden gem
In Taormina, sip a jasmine-infused granita atop the Giardini della Villa Comunale, where oranges and sea views mingle like a Sicilian dream.
Sicily is a place where every bite, every sunset, and every ruin lingers in memory.
Thank you for reading! Adios.
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