Chips: A U.K. Pub Classic, Cheesy Chips: A Newcastle Delicacy

Newcastle is a city. Therefore, inevitably there are an array of odors, both pleasant and unpleasant circulating the air and the lungs of citizens. Cigarette smoke and garbage contaminate the space, yet the bold, rich scent of coffee beans and pastries serves as the perfect relief.

All of these daily smells aside, my all-time favorite scent of Newcastle is the aroma of fresh pub-style chips (French fries). I have an emotional attachment to chips and find myself constantly comparing my latest serving to the last. There is nothing like the classic, soft yet crispy, thick-cut chips that can be found in pubs on every street.

The fragrance is one of comfort. The freshly fried chunky potato strips matched with salty seasoning never fail to invade the spaces of my friends and me, forcing us to give up our cash simply for a small bowl of chips.

In England, you can find a Wetherspoons just about anywhere: a chain of pubs, all with different names, yet operating under the same highly successful pub company. My friends and I simply call them “spoons.” Conveniently located near the city centre, “The Five Swans” (owned by Wetherspoons) is our favorite place to be.

As my big group of friends walks into the establishment about every week, we flash our IDs to the doorman. “New Jersey!” ‘New York!” “Maryland!” He expresses with child-like glee. As we enter, we struggle to find seating as always. Uni students crow the premises and older couples grabbing a drink and an appetizer somehow find their way into the mix.

Half of our group of friends always arrives before the other. “Park View” defines the half of our friend group that lives on one end of the city and “Portland” is the group on the complete opposite side. As a member of Portland, I (and the other Portland residents) always hope that the Park View people arrive first so that my group is not tasked with the dreaded table searching (spoiler alert: Park View is usually there first).

Once we’re finally seated, it is almost impossible to go the entire time without someone ordering a small or large bowl of chips. Usually, Bri is the first to start the trend. She opens her Wetherspoons app, selects the correct location, and enters her typical order: a large glass of chardonnay and a small bowl of chips. The best part about sitting next to Bri at Spoons is that she will always share her chips with you. Sometimes all I need is one minuscule bite to satisfy my craving.

Another Newcastle variation on chips that my friends and I are quite fond of is “cheesy chips.” When you find yourself absolutely inebriated in the middle of the night after hours of pub and club hopping, Pizza Base is the place to stop before going home. The tiny hole-in-the-wall shop never fails to bring me comfort. The sound of fryers sizzling as strips of potato and morsels of chicken make contact with hot oil can be heard from down the block. As I walk up to the counter I am greeted by the most upbeat employees, despite how late it is and how badly they must want to sleep.

I always order cheesy chips (and sometimes chicken nuggets as well if I'm feeling extra hungry or just too intoxicated to care about how much food I order). After paying for my meal, my order is placed in the queue. I plop myself onto the familiar, squishy, definitely at least five years old, couch that is pressed against the wall. I lay there and reflect on the night's events and anything careless myself or my friends may have done due to altered perceptions.

“Number 9, one cheesy chip!” I spring out of my reclined position and collect my end-of-the-night treat. My food is contained in a long aluminum tin as it always is, and a plastic fork is stuck into the center. My friends and I can hardly wait to indulge, and we usually end up eating half of our food on the rest of the walk home. I shovel forkfuls of fries into my mouth: perfectly seasoned, with an irresistible cheese stretch tethered to the bottom.

Cheesy chips are sacred, as the Portland people are the only ones who have the pleasure of delving into this delicacy. For us, it is in the direction of home, yet for someone who lives in Park View, it is far too out of the way to be justifiable enough to make the trip. Cheesy chips and Pizza Base are something the Portland inhabitants can enjoy and bond over together. I just hope that the chips at Spoons make up for the “FOMO” the Park View half of the group may experience due to a lack of experience in the unique experience that is Pizza Base after a night out.