By Declan Cunningham

At Henley-on-Thames, the home of the Royal Regatta,they are holding out against another great British institution … fish and chips. And last night the local council was accused of “Snobbery” in a row over a ban on the sale of fish at the town’s main street chip shop.

Customers at the shop in Hart Street can buy chicken and chips, pies and chips, and even battered sausage and chips,but never fish and chips.

Councillor Albert Spiers who runs the shop with his wife and son, has appealed to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government because the council refuses to let him fry fish.

‘High-Class’

His son Graham said; “It really is ridiculous and I am sure snobbery is behind it. “It seems that the street is too high-class for fish and chips. We are surrounded by antique shops and expensive restaurants.”

A spokesman for the town council of which Councillor Spiers is a member said “Snobbery is too strong a word. It is felt that a fish and chip shop is not appropriate for a place like Hart Street.”