London (AFP) - A slab of battered fish on top of a heap of chips doused in salt and vinegar has long been one of Britain's favourite dinners -- but now it is getting a reboot.
A new wave of fish and chip restaurants is winning fans across London, while some of the capital's most exclusive eateries have the humble dish on their menus.
The makeover for a meal which is nearly 200 years old comes despite the enduring popularity in Britain of fast foods such as curries, kebabs and burgers.
Organisers of Britain's annual National Fish and Chip Awards boast of 10,500 "chippies" around the country, saying some £1.2 billion (1.6 billion euros, $1.8 billion) are spent on the dish annually.
The organisers stressed the nutritional value, saying it was high in protein and contains vitamins while insisting that little saturated fat gets into the dish due to the speed of the frying