Did you know that fish and chips weren’t rationed during the Second World War because the morale of the nation couldn’t take it?

Even Winston Churchill referred to fish and chips as “good companions” and British soldiers even called out to each other saying “fish” and waiting for the response “chips”. They were first served as a dish together in around 1860 – in London the Malin family lays claim to being the first, while in Manchester the Lee family believes it had the honour. Whoever you believe, there’s no doubting that fish and chips are big business.

We Brits eat some 382m portions of fish and chips every year – that’s six servings for every man, woman and child.

Kent can lay claim to officially having one of the best fish and chip shops in the country.

Papa’s Barn at London Road, Ditton, near Maidstone, was a finalist in the Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Award, along with nine others nationally, after being named the best in London and the South East.

The family business, owned by brothers Theo and Michael Papa-Adams, has finished in the top 10 of the awards two years running and was third the year before.

Whichever chippie you use, it's time to celebrate as it’s National Fish and Chip Day on Friday, June 3.

The day will see fish and chip shops across the UK decorating their windows, running special promotions and competitions and generally creating a huge buzz about fish and chips.

For more food and drink news click here.

FISHY FACTS

There are about 10,500 specialist fish and chip shops in the UK.

Fish and chips were served in newspaper until the 1980s.

Fish and chips appear in Charles Dickens’ A Tale Of Two Cities.

British Nutrition Foundation statistics show that an average fish and chip meal contains almost three times less fat (20.6%) than a plate of chicken tikka masala and pilau rice.

Let us know your favourite fish and chips in Kent

Tweet us your pictures at @KMWhatson, on Instagram @kmwhatson, or email us at whatsoneditor@thekmgroup.co.uk

You can also tweet on the day with #nationalfishandchipday.