A video from 1963 captures what is believed to be the first fish and chip shop delivery service in Scotland’s capital.
Tarry’s Fish and Chip shop on Manse Road Corstorphine captured the attention of the BBC news who decided to take a trip down to their family store to capture the revolutionary practice.
In the video, which was shared on Youtube by Christopher Pitbladdo, Mr Tarry and his son are seen delivering fish and chips to a local Corstorphine woman.
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The woman orders two chicken supports, three fish suppers and a carton of hot peas. Within 15 minutes she had the delivery at her front door.
Speaking to BBC News, Mr Tarry said that the introduction of the takeaway delivery was something that was brought on by the emergence of the television in people’s homes.
He said: “Believe it or not it is all your fault. When you started TV in Scotland you gave our trade an awful hit.
“So I decided to do something about it. If customers won’t come to me, then I’ll go to them.
“Normally if someone phones us it means that they have been caught short.
“We take the order and send it off and within 15-20 minutes it is on their table.”
Mr Tarry explains to the journalist that they have special insulated containers that could keep the food hot for as long as four hours but adds that his deliveries take no longer than 15-20 minutes.
The containers look industrial in comparison to the bags that we see today used by food couriers such as JustEat and Deliveroo.
Mr Tarry explains that they offer a variety of foods but that they are first and foremost a traditional Scottish chippy that serves haddock, lemon sole, chicken, hamburgers, sausages, pies and puddings.
He says that a fish and chips cost one and nine in his shop and that delivery costs two shillings - meaning all in all the service cost around a “thruppence.”
The video shows the delivery being taken away by car along Manse Road before it is taken to the home and handed over to the woman who had placed the order.
Manse Road looks extremely similar to modern day but the old Astoria cinema can be spotted in the distance.
It is believed that Tarry’s Fish and Chips was in the same building that the current Magic Kitchen Chinese takeaway is situated today.
You can watch the video in full here on Youtube.
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