Calling all kipper producers…
Kippers. I know, what a random choice as the first product to be mapped? But they’re a bit of an institution in my family.
Back home in Cumbria, a couple of times a year we’d travel round Morecambe bay to Blackpool for a bit of a holiday: in the summer to make the most of the beach and slot machines in Coral Island and in autumn to see the illuminations and freeze to bits on long walks on the prom. Both times en route we’d stop off at the fishmongers at the end of the pier in Fleetwood to place a special order. A week later a well-sealed brown cardboard box would arrive in the post from the Isle of Man.
We instantly knew what was for breakfast the next day: Manx Kippers; on the bone, shallow fried in a bit of butter, with brown bread on the side. Granted, it took longer to pick the bones from the flesh than it did to eat one (I never quite had my Father or Sister’s flair for deboning) but they tasted utterly divine.
As this was well before microwaves and cling film (today’s fast, fragrance free way of cooking them). The smoky, salty smell they created would linger in the kitchen for a good week; it drove my Mum mad, but it was well worth it in my opinion!
So, in tribute to this magnificently preserved herring the first pins on our Produced Nearby website map (which is being built as I type) will be dedicated to kipper producers from throughout our British Isles.
So far I’ve hunted out 3 producers to add to the map:
Fortunes Kippers: who have been smoking herrings for nearly 140 years. Their smokehouse is nestled beneath the ancient cliffs of Whitby. Oak wood smokes their herrings. Fillets and whole kippers can be ordered online here, and in the shop if you’re visiting Whitby they sell an utterly moreish kipper pate too.
L Robson & Sons: a fourth generation family business located in Craster, a small fishing village on the Northumberland coast specialising in the traditional method of oak smoking kippers and salmon. All the fish is cured in the original smokehouses which are over 130 years old. If you can’t make it to their shop in Craster any time soon they also sell online where you can add a bit of smoked salmon, natural smoked cod or haddock to your order as well.
Moore’s Traditional Curers aka Manx Kippers! Now I think these were the ones my dad ordered when I was little; as they are relatively close to Barrow; just half way across the Irish Sea. Moore's Kipper factory is a historical yet still active landmark of Peel, situated on the west coast of the Isle of Man. Moore's produce traditional, oak fired, chimney smoked Manx kippers alongside smoked salmon, oak smoked bacon and a select range of shellfish too. If you ever head to the Isle of Man on holiday they are a “must visit” with factory tours on Mondays in the summer months.
So these 3 brilliant producers are all I’ve found so far. If you know any other herring smokers who deserve a bit of a shout out please do let me know and I’ll add them to the map.
