Chinese tourists flock to North Yorkshire chippy

A fish and chip shop in North Yorkshire has translated its menu for Mandarin and Cantonese speakers to cope with an influx of Chinese tourists.

Scotts Fish and Chips near York has seen coachloads of visitors wanting to try the traditional dish.

The passion for the chippy has been put down to the fish and chips Chinese president Xi Jinping shared with then Prime Minister David Cameron in 2015.

Manager Roxy Vasai said more than 100 Chinese tourists were visiting a week.

The restaurant on the A64 is about six miles from York

Staff said dining at the chippy was a real occasion for the visitors, with many taking photographs with employees both inside and outside the restaurant on the A64 at Bilbrough Top.

The restaurant's location is also thought to be one of the reasons for the influx because it is on the main route for tour groups visiting York from London.

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Ms Vasai said: "We look out for a coach and when they're coming we shout 'they're here, there are 20, 30, 40, let's make it ready for them'.

"We are very impressed by the Chinese tourists. They are very friendly, smiley and happy."

As well as translating the menu, Scotts has launched a website and a messaging app on one of China's most popular social media platforms to promote the business.

Will Zhuang, ambassador for Make It York, an organisation which promotes the city, said many Chinese visitors had been influenced by their president sampling a fish and chip supper during his visit to the UK in 2015.

He added that because of this many Chinese tour operators had added the "fish and chip experience" to their itineraries.

He said: "Most of the Chinese tour groups will visit London, Cambridge and then to York and on their way to York they will pass the A64, so this is an ideal location for the coach to park up."

York is already a popular destination for tourists from East Asia, with China estimated to be the city's second largest overseas market.