A poll of 2,000 Brits revealed the traditional seaside fare to beat the roast dinner, Victoria Sponge and the Cornish Pasty to come top of Britain’s favourite meals and snacks.
Bacon butties, baked beans and Shepherd’s Pie also ranked highly in the list of 40, along with buttered crumpets and a cream tea.
A proud 43 per cent of the adults polled even said British cuisine is the best in the world.
Tom Lowes, Marketing Manager at Sykes Cottages who commissioned the survey for the ‘Discover Cornwall’ food and drink guide, said: “Over the years the nation’s tastes have become increasingly international when it comes to food.
‘’We want to try flavours from all over the world, and it’s great that it’s so available to us.
‘’But we Brits are undoubtedly spoilt when it comes to great local cuisine, and the results are proof that we still get excited by it.
‘’The top three are firm British favourites, but the list demonstrates that regional delicacies whet the nation’s appetite too.’’
The research showed seven in ten of the adults to rate a fish supper as the top traditional British meal – preferably straight out of newspaper at the seaside.
The traditional roast dinner complete with gravy and Yorkshire puddings came second, ideally eaten at Sunday lunchtime in a decent British pub.
While a full English breakfast usually consisting of bacon, sausages, baked beans and fried eggs made up the iconic top three.
One in eight said fry-ups are most satisfying on a Sunday morning - other food made tastier by an event included a hot pie at a football match, and strawberries and cream while watching tennis.
Those with a sweet tooth voted apple crumble, Victoria sponge and a classic Bakewell tart into the top 40 list, as well as pub favourite Sticky Toffee Pudding and custard.
While some quintessential English snacks such as buttered crumpets, sausage rolls and Scotch eggs also featured in the list.
Regional grub including Scotland’s haggis and tatties, London’s jellied eels and the famous Cornish pasty were deemed great examples of British fare, said the poll.
And the chippy was shown to be a trove of Brit favourites, as the list also featured the Northern picks of mushy peas and chips with gravy.
While further pub classics appeared in the form of bangers and mash, ham, egg and chips and a Ploughman’s lunch.
When it came to washing it down, the top drink was unsurprisingly revealed as a cup of builder’s brew.
For 13 per cent it was a pint of real ale that epitomises Britain, while one in ten said a tall glass of Pimms was their chosen Brit classic.
Adults are patriotic when it comes to food - as 43 per cent said British food is the best in the world, with the West Country nabbing the crown for the best regional cuisine.
But a Sunday lunch was most brag-worthy, as half admitted they would serve up traditional roast dinner to international guests, followed by a fruit crumble and a cheese platter.
Tom Lowes of Sykes Cottages said, ‘’When travelling, sampling local food is a great way of getting to know the local area.
‘’And we should remember that this is as relevant in Britain, as it is with international holidays.’’
BEST BRITISH FOOD
- Fish ‘n’ chips
Roast dinner with Yorkshire pudding
Full English breakfast
Bacon butties
Apple crumble
Strawberries and cream
Bangers and mash
Cream tea
Shepherd's Pie
Crumpets
Ham, egg and chips
Sausage rolls
Cornish ice cream
Baked beans
Victoria Sponge
Toad in the hole
Sticky Toffee Pudding and custard
Cornish Pasty
Steak and kidney pie
Pork pie
Bakewell Tart
Ploughman’s lunch
Chips and gravy
Rhubarb and custard
Scampi
Prawn cocktail
Mushy peas
Marmite
Cheese and pickle on crackers
Scotch eggs
Cornish fudge
Spotted Dick
Irish stew and dumplings
Chelsea buns
Eccles cakes
Pea and ham soup
Cucumber sandwiches
Haggis and tatties
Cockles and mussels
Jellied eels
To republish this post please visit The Nation Has Voted. Fish And Chips Wins
