ISLE OF WIGHT CHIP SHOPS: WHEN MAC FISHERIES WERE THE KINGS OF THE HIGH STREET FISH TRADE

Once a familiar sight on high streets across the Isle of Wight, Mac Fisheries brought a touch of modern flair to the traditional British fish and chip shop during the 20th century.

Founded by Lord Leverhulme, Mac Fisheries was originally part of an ambitious plan to revitalise the British fishing industry. Leverhulme, who had amassed wealth through Lever Brothers, sought to create a vertically integrated network linking fishing fleets, processing depots, and retail outlets.

The company’s blue-and-white branding, combined with its commitment to quality and hygiene, made Mac Fisheries one of the best-known names in British fish retailing through the mid-century years.

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By the 1930s, the company’s expansion reached the Isle of Wight, where its distinctive shopfronts quickly became fixtures in towns and resorts across the island. For both residents and holidaymakers, Mac Fisheries offered a dependable place to enjoy fish and chips served with consistency and care.

Newport became one of the company’s key island locations. The High Street was home to a busy wet fish shop opposite what is now Boots, while nearby on St Thomas’s Square, the company operated a popular fish and chip restaurant. The upstairs dining area, reached by what some locals recall as a rickety staircase, was a favourite for family meals and Saturday treats.

One former customer remembered:

“Always loved MacFisheries fish and chip shop in Newport, climbing the rickety staircase to the restaurant on the second floor. Their fish and chips were second to none. The Shanklin shop was also great in its day.”

In Sandown and Shanklin, Mac Fisheries restaurants served generations of seaside visitors. The Shanklin branch, situated on Regent Street, remains particularly well remembered. As one local recalled:

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“My grandfather used to go to MacFisheries (wet fish shop) and buy skate. He then used to go along to MacFisheries fish & chip shop (about 50m further along Regent Street) and ask them to fry it for him!”

Another memory focused on the flavour of the food itself:

“We used to love their chips especially when they fried new potatoes that were sweeter and smaller. But they raised the price every time they fried with new potatoes. They were still the best in Shanklin.”

In Cowes, the shop that later became Solent Fisheries at 6 High Street was once a Mac Fisheries outlet. It served both residents and dockworkers, benefiting from the steady flow of fresh fish delivered from the mainland. One former islander recalled the memorable early morning train that brought the catch:

“I remember the one in West Cowes. In those days most of the fresh fish came by train. The first train out of Cowes at 6:39 had come in earlier and was the mail train connecting with the early morning mail boat. It also carried a lot of fresh fish.

“Although packed in ice when loaded onto insulated vans from the fishing ports up north, by the time it reached Cowes the ice was already melting. As you passed the guards van to get on the train the fish pong was pretty strong! Poor old guard on outbound passenger service had to put up with it.”

In Ventnor, Mac Fisheries was also a familiar presence on the High Street, serving both locals and holidaymakers visiting the town’s bustling seafront. Further west, a branch in Freshwater provided a vital service for nearby villages, extending the company’s reach across the island. Together, these outlets ensured that wherever islanders lived or holidayed, a plate of Mac Fisheries fish and chips was never far away.

Behind the shop counters, the company also maintained a wholesale fish depot at Gunville, supplying its own outlets and other local businesses. This logistical network proved invaluable during World War Two, when meat rationing led to increased demand for fish. Mac Fisheries’ ability to deliver fresh stock daily helped keep the island supplied at a time when transport links were strained.

Part of the company’s enduring appeal came from its design and branding. The clean blue-and-white shopfronts, smart uniforms, and distinctive signage were the work of noted designer Hans Schleger, whose work for Mac Fisheries set new standards for retail presentation in Britain. For many islanders, these visuals became symbols of reliability and good value.

By the 1970s, however, change was underway. Unilever, which had owned Mac Fisheries since the 1920s, began winding down its fish shop operations. The supermarket boom was reshaping British shopping habits, and small high street specialists struggled to compete. In 1979, Unilever closed its remaining stores and sold off related businesses, marking the end of Mac Fisheries on the Isle of Wight.

In Newport, the closure drew local attention, with Bill Archer remembered as the final manager. Several employees went on to establish independent fishmongers and chip shops, continuing a local trade tradition that Mac Fisheries had once helped to shape.

Though its name has vanished from the high street, Mac Fisheries remains part of the Isle of Wight’s culinary memory. For many, the sight of those blue-and-white signs and the taste of perfectly fried fish still evoke an era when a trip to the local chip shop was a simple pleasure worth savouring.

Do you remember Mac Fisheries on the Isle of Wight? Share your memories and photos…