True that the traditional 'fish and chips' are not the food force to be reckoned with that they were when I was much younger. The reason for this is the development of low fat food oils for cooking instead of the lard or beef dripping that was so prevalent in the 50's 60's.
There are a few such chip shops remaining who use the traditional methods and I have driven over 60 miles just to get fish and chips (and peas) from them and found it worth it. By the way...fish, chips and peas are one of the healthiest of all the 'take away' meals in the UK, harbouring far less fat and calorific content than Indian/chines/cantonese etc.
True that if you eat in the majority of pubs you will get boil in the bag veg and not always top rate meat...served at times without style or flavour. As with anywhere else...pay the price and get the goods..you pay for what you get!
There are areas of the UK and certainly some pubs that serve excellent beer, especially 'Real ale' which is a favourite with the Folk scene. There is also a good choice of beer and dare I say something to suit every taste if you can find it.
I believe that if I go to Tunisia or Spain or Romania..I can find a plethora of food and drink items that are not what I am used to as I would if I went to Chicago!
Let's just keep things in perspective here. Martin (and a cross section of others I'm sure) have been to the UK and tried the fare here, finding it lacking to their taste, but may not have eaten at a class restaurant or drank real ale...
So what I'm saying is:- we can all travel but enjoy our home comforts. The experience is good but there's no place like home.
Best wishes, Mike.