It is a staple of British cuisine with people from across the city flocking to Norwich Market to get their fill of traditional fish and chips.

Eastern Daily Press: Lucy's Chips stall on Norwich Market. Chips and curry sauce. Picture: ANTONY KELLYLucy's Chips stall on Norwich Market. Chips and curry sauce. Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2017)

And with more than 40 years of history, Lucy's Chips is a market mainstay, with plans to expand in the coming weeks.

Barclay Gray, who owns the two Lucy's stalls with his brother Kingston, said they took over from their cousins in November.

Since, they have been mixing things up with variations to the menu - such as battered mince pies at Christmas, battered Haggis on Burn's Night, and even heart-shaped chips on Valentine's Day.

Eastern Daily Press: Lucy's Chips, on Norwich Market, undergoing refurbishment. Photo: Lucy's ChipsLucy's Chips, on Norwich Market, undergoing refurbishment. Photo: Lucy's Chips (Image: Lucy's Chips)

Mr Gray, 49, said: 'It's a gimmick, but it keeps us aware and we like to try different things. We're still having people ask if we're doing the haggis, that went down really well.

'We are a traditional chip stall, our chips are cooked in the traditional way. The first stall cooks in beef dripping, and the one we are now refurbishing will use vegetable oil, so we cater for vegetarians too.'

Mr Gray has been working hard to turn the second stall, in Row C, into somewhere where people can stop and enjoy their meal.

Eastern Daily Press: Battered popcorn cockles, from Lucy's Chips, on Norwich Market. Photo: Lucy's ChipsBattered popcorn cockles, from Lucy's Chips, on Norwich Market. Photo: Lucy's Chips (Image: Lucy's Chips)

This has included expanding into the stall next door, to give him a double unit.

'We're trying to get some seating to create a hub where people can enjoy their food,' he added.

Mr Gray also said it was important for people to continue to support Norwich Market.

Eastern Daily Press: Battered mince pies, from Lucy's Chips, on Norwich Market. Photo: Lucy's ChipsBattered mince pies, from Lucy's Chips, on Norwich Market. Photo: Lucy's Chips (Image: Lucy's Chips)

'Support it or lose it, basically. There's a wide variety of stuff on the market, I'd encourage people to come and give us a look because you might be surprised by what you find.'

He said he felt Norwich City Council were trying and make things work, but that other traders also supported each other.

'For example, we get our sausages from Paul's Butchers. And being on the market means we can be cheaper than other food outlets in the city, being that little bit cheaper helps.'

Eastern Daily Press: Battered haggis, from Lucy's Chips, on Norwich Market. Photo: Lucy's ChipsBattered haggis, from Lucy's Chips, on Norwich Market. Photo: Lucy's Chips (Image: Lucy's Chips)

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Not just chips

Times have changed since Lucy's began in 1971, and now the stall offers more options than ever before.

Eastern Daily Press: Heart-shaped chips, from Lucy's Chips, on Norwich Market. Photo: Lucy's ChipsHeart-shaped chips, from Lucy's Chips, on Norwich Market. Photo: Lucy's Chips (Image: Lucy's Chips)

As well as the traditional portions of chips customers will find local sausages, fish cakes, and the more exotic whitebait or occasioanlly battered cockles.

Ann Pye, who works on the stall, said particularly popular were chips and curry sauce, or chips with gravy.

'People have chips with gravy and cheese,' she said. 'Don't knock it until you try it.'

One customer queuing for his portion of chips said it was only the second time he had visited the stall, but he had come back after being impressed the first time.

And the Evening News' public affairs correspondent Dan Grimmer is also a fan of the stall. He said: 'As far as I'm concerned, Lucy's is the best chip stall on the market. Always cooked to perfection and plenty of portion for your money.'