WHEN a venue comes so highly recommended that the friends telling us about it offer to join our visit, we have a certain level of expectation.

Should our visit fall far below what we anticipated we know we will be embarrassed. Our previous attempt to visit this well-known spot was thwarted. It was closed. However, from personal observations on the many occasions we have passed through Stamford Bridge, it is clearly very popular, at least with the take-away trade.

We were warmly greeted when we arrived. Although only a quarter past midday, other customers were already tucking into their meals. Other snackers arrived at regular intervals throughout our visit.

The display of novelty teapots and an aerial photograph of Stamford Bridge under water immediately caught our eye. So did a framed cutting entitled 'The Great British Meal'.

For £5.50 there was a choice of cod or haddock, with scampi £1 extra. Chicken, meat or steak pies were also available.

They were served with bread and butter and the option of peas, beans or curry sauce and tea or coffee.

There was an OAP/children's menu for £4.25. This gave the added alternative of chicken nuggets, sausage or fish cakes.

We had hardly ordered before the tea and buttered bread arrived. They were quickly followed by cod and beans for Ann and haddock with peas for me.

The fish looked and tasted fresh and was generously battered. But were we unfortunate with the chips? Both our plates had a disproportionate amount of small hard potato fragments which we had to leave.

It was not possible to see if this was the standard helping or not.

The plates and cups were embossed with the firm's name and attractively laid out on the tables. A range of sauces in sachets was available on each table.

I am sure our friends would not have suggested this visit if they had not been previously satisfied. Maybe had the assistant who served us not been chewing all the time we might have had a different perspective.

But there's no doubt fish and chip-loving pensioners are getting a good deal.

Updated: 08:37 Saturday, October 18, 2003