This is a big one. I’m at the infamous Old Smithy in Ambleside. Known for owner Gary’s interesting replies to reviews left on his establishment! However, are the fish and chips any good and are the people writing them simply attempting to troll? Let’s find out.

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45 Comments

  1. I don't expect my chippy to be media trained, I feel bad for the people on the older side that find themselves at the bad end of an online troll campaign. I wish all the best for Gary, I will definitely visit the shop the next time I am in the area.

  2. He has that confrontation vibe about him, super defensive owner. He loses customers alot, and prices of that fish&chips are ridiculous, that's London prices, 32£, common, actually price is ok lotta items

  3. It's rare to actually find a place that's actually bad at fish and chips, like my local chippy has tried to poison me with a not cooked calzone but fish and chips people have been cooking them since before chippys even existed, hence smoke me a kipper I'll be back for breakfast. People used to eat fish for breakfast. 100s of years cooking fish and now randomly can't yeah the reviews I wouldn't believe them either, their job and livelyhood is cooking so it I think it would take something unique or random for them to not notice chips are not cooked properly, they're fish and chips cooking veterans at this point especially if the business passes from father to son which most chippies I see tend to do.

  4. Great review Gary & I don't take any notice of reviews I make my own mind up if no likey don't go backy this is a mans business!!..👍…p.

  5. Fair play to him, looks like he's a nice enough guy in person. Anyone can get carried away with internet aggression, say horrible things they don't really mean and act out of character, I've done it myself plenty of times and it's pretty much my Twitter legacy from before I got rid (for unrelated ownership reasons). All you can do is try to be nicer. Sometimes it just doesn't work! It's the same phenomenon as road rage.

  6. Hi Gary, we have eaten there countless times over 30 years. More recently I've seen Gary struggling with disinterested staff. Times were when you had to queue outside. Hope he manages to turn things around. Cheers Graham

  7. I have read the reviews there. Some of the reviews look targeted but the response is worse. The language in the replies is alienating himself. It makes it worse engaging verbally and especially with aggression. There is a problem with the supplier in fish, its something that is common in many fish and chips outlets across the country, reflecting in price.

  8. i do wonder if you get special treatment because you have a channel, extra chips, care over the fish cooking times, etc. They clearly recognised you.

  9. Looked great but I'm always going to be disappointed in having to squeeze tartar sauce from a packet.. I'm in Massachusetts and I've never seen that here even.. its so easy to make its like 5 ingredients there's just no good excuse for that

  10. Considering that you very eating 🍽️ in the chip shop I’d say it’s more of a chip shop restaurant so I’d say as you ate inside it was quite reasonably priced. 👍🏻

  11. 3:08 correct as you are mate, allow me to play devil's advocate and say sometimes it's needed for two reasons
    1. A piss take can be a fun way to say "OI DUMBASS, WAKE UP FROM YOUR DELUSIONS!" in the most direct way outside of insulting them like I did there

    And 2. PSA to the community when that reputation is truthful, it says don't support them, they're frankly not worth your time if this is their attitude without improvement. It's the same thing us in the gaming community does minus the fake reviews.

    It has it's place but I can see why you're saying otherwise. The way the owner is reacting online? Reminds me of a less violent version of Amy's Baking Company.

    Gary is just lucky the staff and the food at least are decent enough for his business to not crumble

  12. The owners right about customers being entitled. There's so many arrogant customers that just cause so many issues. Kitchens can be very busy places but customers just don't understand that. Meanwhile anyone who has worked in a kitchen understands when ordering food.

  13. That owner is obviously from Leeds – why does everyone from Leeds have the same manorisms and head movement when they talk?! haha

  14. The only thing to moan about is the Ice Valley water at £1.95 a bottle. You can get a case of 24 at Booker for around £4.00! The food itself though has made me hungry for fish & chips. Just a good old proper british chippy!

  15. You have gone in with a camera, so you have probably treated different like being given larger portions and it also depends on the member of staff aswel who serving

  16. Popped in there after a massive day walking local Fells with the dog. Think your claim of it being “honest and good” is perfect, mate. I was starving, and it followed a couple of cold pints perfectly. Absolutely no drama and decent quality. The dog did not complain about hers either 😂! Ultimately they’re a business trying to operate in a massive tourist town and fake reviews are utterly ridiculous. If you like a good chippy, as we both do, then there is nothing that will disappoint you there.

  17. Did they know you were filming ?? I know a lot of people seem to give more or act a different way for the camera, but i like the honesty about you and the calm chilled approach you have too.

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