Everyone has their favorite places, and Fish & Chicken in Chingford was David Beckham’s. The smell of fried fish and crispy chips lured the football star in almost every week.
To most people this is just a traditional fish and chip shop. But this is where Beckham used to visit regularly, often with his children, while his father lived nearby.
Step inside and you’ll be greeted by the irresistible sight of chunky chips, spreads, crispy fried chicken and oversized fish coated in batter. If you look at the walls, you will see several pictures of the football legend himself, a nod to his many visits.
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Owner Tuncay Bulbul, 36, remembers the first time Beckham came in. He said: “At first he turned his back on me, but I immediately recognized one of his tattoos. I knew he lived locally, so I asked: ‘Are you home?’ and he smiled and said yes. That day he was doing takeaway with two of his children.”
From that day on, Beckham became a regular, stopping by as often as every two or three days. Tuncay added: “He must have really enjoyed it because he was here every week for a long time.”
David Beckham was born in Leytonstone, east London, and went to high school in Chingford. Despite his global fame, he regularly visited the local chippy while stopping by his father’s house, just two blocks away on Hampton Road.
But since the covid-19 pandemic, Beckham has not returned to Fish & Chicken. Tuncay said: “March 2020 was the last time I saw him. But his dad moved, so I understand why.”
Tuncay is grateful for David Beckham’s repeated visits, as they boosted the store’s reputation. He added: “It’s all in the past now, but I’m glad he chose us so often over the months. It definitely gave the shop some character!”
The store’s most recent brush with Beckham was when the crew of his Netflix documentary, released last year, filmed in the store. Tuncay said: “They came and shot some footage, but it seems we didn’t make the final cut; we were edited out of the main documentary.”
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Tuncay also revealed the soccer sensation’s go-to orders. He said: “He always had a Saveloy, which he obviously liked. There were also times when he would have prawns or fried chicken.”
He recalled a moment when Beckham’s mother came in for takeout, and when Tuncay asked about David, she mentioned that the skates she ordered were for him, implying that he enjoyed them too.
