Happy birthday Fish-n-Chips.

So, Fish-n-Chips are officially 150 years old this week.

Joseph Malin's parents had already started frying chips, and selling them directly from their home in London, when the lad had his brilliant idea of marrying them with fried battered fish. Joseph opened his first (THE first) English fish and chip shop in 1860.

Fish-n-Chips should only ever be eaten from within a paper wrapper (should be newspaper, but 'elf-n-safety banned this back in the 1980's); never from plates, cardboard cartons, or polystyrene. Neither should they be eaten at table, but consumed leaning against a wall, sitting on a deckchair (as above), or walking the length of Brighton Pier. They should always be eaten with fingers, not little wooden forks, and they should be lightly sprinkled with salt, and malt vinager. When finished, the paper wrapping should be screwed up into a ball, and deposited as close as possible to an overflowing rubbish bin.

The name of the shop (where you buy your Fish-n-Chips) is also important. Oh my Cod, The Plaice to be, Battersea Cod's Home, Odds & Cods, etc; these are all OK. Avoid outlets with names such as The Grosvenor Fish Restaurant, or Ye Olde Fisshe-n-French-Fry Emporium. Far too tarty.

Current price; about £6. Amount of calories; about 1000. Pleasure factor; incalculable.

Happy birthday Fish-n-Chips.