Bad news for Whitby

Subject: Bad news for Whitby
From: Rasener
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 02:44 PM

Customers who queue for fish and chips at the Magpie Cafe in Whitby may face fixed penalty £50 fines for obstructing the road.

That could be a bit expensive with the festival costs as well.

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 03:10 PM

It's a British Tradition the queue is.

They have been queing at Magpie for over 30 years.

The guy with the business next door has a point in that people
miss his shop because of the queue.

From a personal point of view while the Magpies ok there are better F/Cs at Hadleys over the bridge and The Royal.

Why does the Magpie not buy up the shops either side and turn
them into a waiting room.

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: GUEST,Frug
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 03:18 PM

Fish and Chips at £7.50...................!!

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 03:46 PM

This year's Folk Week was the first time I got to eat in the Magpie in 8 consecutive years of going to the festival - just happened to be looking for food and passing when it wasn't raining and the queue was only at the top of the steps. I like fish but not batter so really appreciated the choices at the Magpie (West Cliff) and Mr Chips (East Cliff).

Kitty

PS There appeared to be a designated queuing area on the pavement opposite, and there was a suggestion in the newsletter that a nice black and white zebra crossing might help to manage the queue's transition from the waiting area to the entrance.

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: JamesHenry
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 04:06 PM

"They have been queing at the Magpie for over 30 years."

No wonder the queue's so long.

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: Surreysinger
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 05:03 PM

Hi Kitty - same thing happened to Marian and me last year - the queue was only at the top of the steps, and we had time to kill - so we seized the opportunity and got in - shared a table with two couples (both of which were comprised of locals who were non-folkies) who we had a lovely discussion with, and the choice of fish dishes was, IMHO, superlative. All due respects, Guest Guest, but the point of the Magpie is not JUST fish and chips - it's a fish restaurant - two different things! I was deeply impressed this year, when chatting to component parts of Craig Morgan and Robson,(minus Moira) who were queuing in the designated area on the opposite side of the road in the rain, when restaurant staff came out with huge black and white umbrellas for all the people in the queue - sadly we didn't have the time to go in there this year - but I have it in mind to go back in 2007!!

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: gnomad
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 05:19 PM

There is indeed a "pedestrian waiting area" on the opposite side, right by the fish market back wall. I am unsure that a crossing is needed; traffic is single file, one way, 20mph speed limit, and the sheer number of pedestrians means that they generally rule the road there. The hardest bit will be getting anyone to use the waiting zone, since a road-break in the queue simply begs for people to queue-jump, and the pavement in question is pretty smelly to boot. Of course with a crossing the queue might just block the road entirely.

I haven't eaten at the Magpie, excellent F&C are easily found elsewhere in the town as Kitty and Guest03:10pm mention, and at better prices. Was the Magpie streets ahead, Kitty?

As for buying either side, well they did buy up on one side, turning it into the Magpie Takeaway (I believe they may have simultaneously improved their disabled access, which was pretty poor before) they now have two queues obstructing normal useage of the road where there was previously only one. Given sufficient resources they might persuade further businesses to sell up, but neither immediate neighbour is currently advertised as being on the market.

Perhaps if Mr Stein could discover one or two of the other delights of the town his groupies might spread out a bit more?

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: suzi
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 05:22 PM

And not before time...

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: The Vulgar Boatman
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 06:14 PM

Call me a cynical old son of no father if you will, but I sense the sticky fingers of local politics and competitors at work here. I seriously doubt whether a charge of obstructing the highway could be made to stick if it came to court. You can see the headlines "family fined for loitering with intent to buy a fish supper...." "I swear by almighty cod that the evidence....."

KYBTTS

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: Tootler
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 07:10 PM

Sounds like the authorities - Police and Council being heavy handed and, as usual in these cases getting themselves unwanted publicity. In the process, the Magpie gets some very useful publicity.

I've been going to the Magpie for more than 20 years now and, IMO, they have maintained their high standards over that time. There are other good places for fish and chips in Whitby, but the Magpie stands with the best.

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 01:18 AM

What IS the business on the other side of the Magpie? Could he not use the queue to his advantage by displaying his wares and making offers to those waiting?

And if it's a sit down meal with a plate and cutlery, then £7.50 is bloody good for a fish meal. Try going into Mr Stein's restaurant in Padstow and getting anything for that price.

LTS

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 02:39 AM

Gnomad - I had lemon sole in chive butter with new potatoes and fresh veg - it was my treat of the week, Not cheap (£13.50 IIRC) but very nice.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: The Vulgar Boatman
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 03:32 AM

As I recall, the business on the town side of the Magpie does have his wares laid out on the area in front of his shop - crockery and glassware, mostly.
As to obstruction, a waiting area complete with signs on the fishmarket wall, has been set out on the opposite pavement, which is just about wide enough for a queue of people and pedestrian traffic. It is well organised, the girls from the restaurant work it remarkably well with commendable politeness and good humour; assuming folk week to be one of the busier times for the town, we had to wait about twenty minutes for a table at five o'clock on a Friday evening, and on Tuesday were served within five minutes at the takeaway. If someone didn't have an axe to grind it would scarcely rate a second look. It's rather a pity that there isn't an official mechanism for telling such persons to piss up their kilts.
The fish pie's pretty damn good as well.

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: Bill t' bodger
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 09:14 AM

I live here in Whitby and have only been in the restaurant side once, it was ok but I have had better fish elsewhere in town, it is just that several celebs have filmed or mentioned the Magpie over the years. I do use the take-away at times and find it to be of reasonable quality too.

When it is open Quarterdeck often has better fish though and a couple of other chippies in town can at least match the Magpie but they prefer to serve the local trade which is often forgotten in a town like Whitby, we like to eat too you know!

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: melodeonboy
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 09:47 AM

LTS, you reckon that £7.50 for sit-down fish and chips is "bloody good for a fish meal".

Blimey! How would you describe the two chippies that I use when I'm at Broadstairs where I can get top quality sit-down fish and chips for little more than a fiver?

I've never paid £7.50 for fish and chips.

(And people are always telling me that it's cheaper to live in the North Country!)

Yours tight-fistedly!

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 11:36 AM

Who's winding who up? Theres no such offence as standing on a public highway.

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: JamesHenry
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 11:37 AM

I lay beneath a mackerel sky
And viewed old Whitbys' ships,
Then headed to the Magpie
To get some fish and chips.

The queue stretched like a conger eel
It drove me up the pole,
Saw Herga Kitty tucking in
To a lovely lemon sole.

The Tootler, he remained impressed
As regards their standards,
While Frug thought seven fifty
Put them on a par with bandits.

"Seven fifty's pretty good,"
Chirped in Liz the Squeak,
"A plaice I know in Padstow
Charged me more than that last week."

"Hurry, in the name of cod,"
A voice cried out in pain,
"Ma bladder's fit fer burstin'
And it will nae take the strain."

The queue it grew and nowt got through
This motley crew of chancers,
Shanty singing folkies
And teams of morris dancers.

Then plod came by and cast his eye
Upon the vast obstruction,
"I'll have to book you all," he said,
For that is my instruction."

"Tell us sarg, what's the charge?"
Up spoke a pheasant plucker,
"You're charged with loitering with intent
To purchase a fish supper."

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 01:52 PM

Which restaurant is the Magpie? I had the worst fish and chips I ever had in my life at a restaurant on the bend of the main road in Whitby, just east of the bridge. the breading was all soggy was grease, and the fish was barely cooked. After that, I opted for Yorkshire pudding until I got back to London.
Sorry I missed the Magpie, since it sounds like their fish and chips must be a real treat.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: GUEST,Ian
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 02:05 PM

"Who's winding who up? Theres no such offence as standing on a public highway. "

There is when its called "Obstructing the Highway"!

Ian

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 02:34 PM

JamesHenry - LOL, thanks.

And yes, the footway is part of the highway and obstructing the passage of pedestrians is an offence. But they'd have to nick the queue, not the Magpie, I think...!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 03:03 PM

It is however lawful to use the highway to go pass and re-pass, so if everyone in the queue in sequence walked from side to side of the pavement and back (a bit like a snake) there would be no obstruction, even though no-one could get past!

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 03:40 PM

Obstructing the highway usually applies to parked cars. I don't see how it could apply to pedestrians. Unlike pedestrians, horses and bicycles, cars have to pay to use the highway. If the original poster is serious let's see their evidence.

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 04:06 PM

No guest, cars don't pay in England to use the highway. The owners of the cars pay vehicle excise duty but it's part of general taxation not hypothecated so doesn't relate to their use of the highway. If pedestrians prevent the passage of vehicles or other pedestrians they are obstructing the highway (unless, apparently, according to Richard, they move sideways or walk across the pavement from side to side.)

Not quite sure why this is above the line... suspect it's BS really!

Joe Offer - the Magpie is (as mentioned above) on the quayside, West Cliff, back of the fish market. The one with the queue down the steps, and on the opposite footway. You get queues for Trenchers on the West Cliff quayside (nearer the Plough and Tap and Spile) too though!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: gnomad
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 04:14 PM

I imagine RB will know what is the available penalty for behaviour liable to cause a breach of the peace? If anyone tried the snake tactic on that bit of road I would be very surprised if a scrap did not result, except maybe in folk week, when the most astonishing things can happen and nobody turns a hair.

I am guessing that the offence is still on the books as although we regularly invent new offences, we seem reluctant to abolish old ones.

Joe: you picked badly there, while poor F&C is not that easy to find here I think you went to one of the two places in town which I would nominate for sub-standard grub. Your solution was an interesting one and reminds me of the chap, a frenchman in believe, who said that to eat well in England one should eat breakfast three times a day. Here's where to find the Magpie Magpie Cafe website but if you are coming across again I am sure that I (or one of the several other 'catters who live here) would be happy to provide further ideas.

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: melodeonboy
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 05:24 PM

Thanks, James Henry. A rib-tickling song/poem!

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: Compton
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 07:31 PM

I once went to the Magpie..and because there were two of us, (at 5.30pm) we weren't allowed to sit by the (four seated) tables by the windows upstairs.
The are dozens of other wonderful F and C shops in Whitby..perhaps it's only because of Egon Ronay and Rick Stein that people queue there!!
(The Crab Salad was good though!!)

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: GUEST,zizest
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 04:00 PM

Hadleys is by far the best!

Subject: RE: Bad news for Whitby
From: Terry K
Date: 06 Jan 07 - 08:55 AM

The Magpie is way overrated. It got its reputation around 50 years ago and hasn't moved on. The fish is generally overcooked, batter is too thick and heavy, sauces on non-fried fish are at best clumsy. It stays busy because of its reputation and the fact that people who eat there are unable to discern. I've been caught too often - people tell me it has improved, so I try it again and it's always disappointing.

The best fish and chips in the area (about 10 miles away) are to be found at Liverton Mines, but don't tell anyone or they'll become famous and get buggered up.

cheers, Terry