Ivans Fish & Chips

Old school as you like, great food and a weird heater thing by the door that keeps making a crashing sound, makes me jump every time. The menu here is crazy, a fully stocked fish and chip menu, then a curry menu and a special bord including chilli and other home made delights.
Im sitting here starving to death as i wright this, its torture.
The sitting areas cute but the view of the main road is abit grim so we tend to take out. You’ll find the staff all wearing Teet shirt T-​shirts with different black country slogans on them.
Ivans has been going longer than there have been roads in Cradley and i dont think it will ever be gone, couldn’t ask for nothing more from a local chippie.

The first thing my Nan said when she heard I was moving to Cradley Heath was «why would you do a thing like that?» followed closely by «at least you’ll be able to go to Ivan’s».
I thought she was talking about visiting some long-​lost Great Uncle, which would’ve been cool. But no, she was talking about a fish and chip shop.
It is one of those rare chip shops that displays the fresh fish in the window and has a restaurant area, complete with squeezy bottles of red sauce. It has that proper Black Country vibe — no-​nonsense, no frills and no concern for cholesterol content.
Old people love Ivan’s. You’ll see plenty of them sitting in the restaurant on Friday nights, cheeky bottle of Blossom Hill resting on the gingham covered table (they let you bring your own booze!).
I tend to go there for take-​away. The fish is always excellent and the battered chips are divine. I’m not a huge fan of the unbattered chips, they always seem a bit on the flabby and grey side for my liking. These guys also know how to chill a can of fizzy Vimto.
Service is quick and the ladies behind the counter call customers «bab». Ivan’s has been going for more than fifty years, fish and chips from here is more than a meal, it is local history, deep fried and wrapped up in paper.