A loved Greenwich chippy remains the top spot on TripAdvisor for best fish and chip shop in London despite being ordered to take down an iconic picture from outside of its building.
The Golden Chippy, situated on Greenwich High Road, is rated as the number one fish and chip shop in all of London with a whopping five stars – the highest rating available.
With both outdoor and indoor seating, this is a popular spot all year round for people wanting to enjoy a plate of delicious fish and chips.
Owner of the Golden Chippy, Chris Kanizi arrived in London back in 1977 with the ambition to study medicine and train as a doctor.
However, the now 65-year-old's dream transformed and instead led him to opening the Golden Chippy.
The spot was opened back in 2005 and has grown into a “legendary” local favourite since then.
A spokesperson for the fish and chip shop said: “While we are well known for our friendly service and close relationships with our regulars, the quality of our food has always been our highest priority.
“We are very picky about our ingredients and carefully source them from trusted suppliers. The key to our success is very fresh ingredients cooked with all our love and, of course, our secret Golden Chippy recipe.”
After years of customers leaving glowing reviews on Tripadvisor, the Golden Chippy was voted as London’s number one restaurant in 2016, beating fine dining restaurants such as Claridge’s and The Foyer.
A spokesperson added: “It makes us incredibly happy to receive regular visitors from all over the globe and share our true British fish and chips experience.”
However, the shop was recently told to take it’s much-loved sign down from the outside of the restaurant.
The sign shows a fish holding a Union Jack flag and Chris claims it is a selfie hotspot for people visiting Greenwich.
The council told Chris to take it down as it claims the sign was put up without permission and that the chippy is in “a conservative area”.
Greenwich Council went on to say that it was close to a World Heritage Site and that it is acting in accordance with government planning laws.
A council spokesperson has slammed suggestions that the picture had to be removed because of the Union flag as “disingenuous and untrue”, adding that the owner of the Golden Chippy is welcome to apply for permission to put the sign back.
Chris told The Standard that he paid £250 for the painting and that, while the council claims people have been complaining, everyone he has spoken to has told him they love the picture.
A spokesperson for the Royal Borough of Greenwich said: “You may have seen several headlines over the weekend about a business in Greenwich.
“Whilst it’s not always appropriate to comment on individual cases, contrary to reports this has nothing to do with the Union Flag or any of the painting’s contents.
"The advert has been painted, without any permission, in a conservation area, close to a World Heritage Site.
“The Council is acting according to Government planning laws, as it would with any unauthorised advert.
“Any suggestions this is because of the Union Flag are disingenuous and untrue. The business owner is welcome to apply for advert consent in line with the conservation area he is in."
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