Cod on the Tyne! Hundreds of people queue for more than an hour on Good Friday to get their hands on a traditional fish and chip lunch

  • Hungry customers lined the street outside Colmans in South Shields for lunch
  • Colmans is famous in the region and has served Tony Blair and David Miliband
  • Family business started in small hut in 1905 and is now run by fourth generation
  • Some customers queued for their traditional lunch before the shop even opened 

By STEPH COCKROFT FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

Hundreds of people have queued for more than an hour to get their hands on a traditional Good Friday fish and chip lunch.

Hungry customers lined the street outside Colmans in South Shields - said to be the best in the area - to buy a portion of battered cod and chips.  

Colmans is famous in the region and has served a host of celebrity customers including Tony Blair and David Miliband.

Hundreds of people have queued for more than an hour to get their hands on a traditional Good Friday fish and chip lunch

Hundreds of people have queued for more than an hour to get their hands on a traditional Good Friday fish and chip lunch

Hungry customers lined the street outside Colmans in South Shields - said to be the best in the area - to buy a portion of battered cod and chips

Hungry customers lined the street outside Colmans in South Shields - said to be the best in the area - to buy a portion of battered cod and chips

The thriving family business, which has been serving the nation's favourite for four generations, started in 1905 in a small hut on South Shields foreshore.

It is now run by great-grandson Richard Ord Senior, 62, and his son Richard Junior, 24.

Richard Junior said: 'We love working on Good Friday, it is everyone's favourite day.

'It is hectic, but it is fun, everyone is in high spirits. It is a tradition to have fish and chips on Good Friday, it brings everyone together.

'It makes me feel very humbled that people wait that long to be served. We appreciate everyone waiting so long and we like to give them the best product and service in return.

'We sometimes send little cups of chips and little cups of juice down the queue to make sure everyone's happy.

'It is always a full team on Good Friday, everyone comes in early to get set up for the day and we always have to order in extra.'

He said there can be 50 people queuing outside even before the shop opens.   

The thriving family business, which has been serving the nation's favourite for four generations, started in 1905 in a small hut on South Shields foreshore

The thriving family business, which has been serving the nation's favourite for four generations, started in 1905 in a small hut on South Shields foreshore

It is now run by great-grandson Richard Ord Senior, 62, and his son Richard Junior, 24

It is now run by great-grandson Richard Ord Senior, 62, and his son Richard Junior, 24

'It's good to see some of the staff having a chat with then before we open,' he said. 'We are very, very proud that people wait so long to be served by us. It is a good day.'

Home maker Alison Pearson, 50, faced a wait of over an hour as she stood in the queue waiting to be served.

She had travelled 13 miles to South Shields to get her hands on the mouth watering fish and chips.

She said: 'It is a long time to wait, but I know it will be well worth it when we finally get to the front.

On Good Friday many people swerve meat and eat fish instead. Christians choose not to eat meat as a mark of respect to Jesus, who sacrificed his body and therefore flesh when he was crucified. The chips are pictured above 

On Good Friday many people swerve meat and eat fish instead. Christians choose not to eat meat as a mark of respect to Jesus, who sacrificed his body and therefore flesh when he was crucified. The chips are pictured above 

'We've been here fifteen minutes already, and there must be around 80 or 90 people waiting in front of us.

'We come here Good Friday, it is tradition for us. In past years we have had the takeaway but this time we are waiting to sit in the restaurant area.

'What sets these fish and chips apart is their freshness. They are the best fish and chips around.'

On Good Friday many people swerve meat and eat fish instead. Christians choose not to eat meat as a mark of respect to Jesus, who sacrificed his body and therefore flesh when he was crucified.

Non-believers also eat fish on a Friday as part of a national tradition. 

 

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