From the outside, the building appears to be a typical red-brick terraced home. Step inside, however, and you find yourself standing in a fish & chips shop thats in the living room itself
Traditional English jumbo sized Fish and Chips served in paper
The chippy is run by John Robbins, who took over the business in 1987 when he was just 23-years-old (stock image)(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
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Most of us have a soft spot for a local chippy. Yet one North West man barely needs to leave home for his fish and chips, as he serves them straight from his front room. Robbins J Chippy is a historic, family-run takeaway in Leigh, Greater Manchester, operating directly out of the living room of an ordinary terraced house. Situated at 95 Gordon Street (WN7 1RU), it is a cherished local institution that has been serving the community as a chip shop since 1893.
From the outside, the building appears to be a typical red-brick terraced home. Step inside, however, and you find yourself standing in a fish & chips shop thats in the living room itself, complete with wood-panelled walls, retro felt pegboard menus, and flyers for local businesses.
The shop is operated by John Robbins, who took over the business in 1987 when he was just 23 years old. He lives directly behind the counter, with his mum residing next door — the two even sharing a phone line.
Despite being based in Manchester, John is famously a proud Liverpool FC supporter, with the shop walls adorned with Liverpool memorabilia. Indeed, it's a well-known local joke that customers would be wise not to walk in wearing a Manchester United shirt.
Influencer Robbie Thompson, renowned for 'championing British food', recently shared a video filmed inside the fish and chip shop during a visit there.
He could be heard saying in the clip: "This is the man who has a fish and chip shop inside his living room.
"John, who lives alone, took over the chippy in the 1980s when he was 23-years-old and has changed almost nothing in the shop.
"It has the original 1970s decor and many of the items, like the menu board are original."
Robbie heaped praise on the fish and chip shop as he disclosed he ordered the super super barm – comprising half a sausage, half a fish, mushy peas and chips – for merely £2.50.
He also sampled fish and chips (£6) and John's homemade steak pudding (£2).
Robbie highlighted the chips in particular were "stupendously good" and "tasted like your mum or grandma made them".
He also mentioned that when he rang the shop to enquire about its opening hours, he spoke to John's "lovely mum" next door, due to the shared telephone line.
Regarding its opening hours, the shop can be remarkably unpredictable. It frequently opens around 11:30am, but may only trade a few days each week (usually Thursdays and Fridays) to control energy costs.
Robbie explained that despite being called Robbins J Chippy, locals often know it as Gordon St. Chippy.
People adored the post, with it rapidly going viral – accumulating more than 23,000 likes.
One individual commented: "Love these old lost in time shops and restaurants. Hope you keep finding them."
While another contributed: "God that so reminds me of the chippy's of my childhood. That wood cladding and the back room/living room was quite common." Another customer added: "This place is a Leigh institution. The food is awesome and very fairly priced. He delivers to the elderly residents around the area so they can eat a decent meal. Honestly the best chippy in the north west bar none!"