It is the simplest of meals but has almost cult status in Blackburn and Darwen – meet the Shad Dab.

The Shad Dab will set you back £1.90 and consists of a dab (slice of potato battered and fried), lettuce, cheese and mayo in a bun. It is one of the most popular items on the menu at the Harbour Fish and Chip Shop on Rothesay Road in Shadsworth.

Owner Dougie Ballantyne said the Shad Dab had developed its own cult following.

He said: “We sell quite a few and you will find people travel to the town just for this.

“The Shad Dab was named by worker Natalie in 2007 when we ran the chippy on Ballantrae Road around the corner. We moved here to the new spot five years ago and it has always been a firm favourite for customers.

“We have Shad Dab T-shirts, pens and during the pandemic even had Shad Dab face masks.

“People go on holiday and send us images of them wearing Shad Dab T-shirts in far off places.”

It is believed the lettuce, dab, also known as a scallop at some East Lancashire chippies, cheese and mayo combination was first sold back in the nineties when a chippy close to Blackburn College offered a cheap alternative meal to students.

The Harbour chippy though has gone a few steps further. Here, you will also find haggis in batter, pineapple fritters and battered sausages.

The aptly named ‘Shad All In’ consists of a jumbo sausage and dab with lettuce cheese and mayo. Whilst the ‘Shad Sausage’ comes with sausage, lettuce, cheese and mayo.

And if you want something a little sweeter then you could try the deep fried Snickers.

Dougie said: “Once people get over the psychological block of the haggis they warm to it. You will be surprised the number of people who then come back for more.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

The Harbour is one of the last traditional chip shops in the town.

Dougie celebrates 25 years in the fish and chip shop trade and said the pandemic had brought communities together in some respects.

He added: “We closed for the first eight weeks of the lockdown last year as we did not know exactly what was going on but have been open since.

“During the pandemic we made an effort to look out for some of most vulnerable customers and we did a lot of deliveries. We love the area and the people.”

The chippy would also deliver non-food items to those who requested it and sometimes were happy to accept payments later from those who could not pay.

“We just wanted to do what we could to help,” says Dougie.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Carol Casey, who works at Newground Together next door to the chippy, is a big fan of the Shad Dab.

 She said: “It is easy to see why it is so popular. It is unique to Shadsworth. Also, for what you get it is a bit of bargain at £1.90.

“We do get a lot of people who visit us and have never tried it and they are thankful for the recommendation.”