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Visiting the Bourdon Street Chippy

10 September 2025

I was taking a photo of a dinosaur fossil sculpture in the street, when three kids rushed up to it, followed by their Mum. "Did you know there's a felt chip shop around the corner?" I asked. "Like, a chip shop made of textiles."

"You mean the Bourdon Street Chippy?" she said. "We came past that. We thought it was real."

It is utterly convincing at first glance, and wonderful for kids and adults alike. I had visited earlier and felt joyful to be immersed in such a fun and surprising artwork.

A view into the chip shop shows several tables set with checked table cloths and with plates of food on the table. The pictures are of supposed celebrity visitors.

The food on the table, signs and pictures on the wall are all crafted in textiles

Artist Lucy Sparrow and her team have recreated a dine-in and takeaway chip shop, with tables set with plates of food. The fish, sauce bottles and celebrity photos on the wall have all been created in textiles in brilliant detail. In the room next door is a hot food cabinet, filled with fish, sausages, mushy peas, and pies. The front of the cabinet displays a stitched poster for a circus. Behind the counter is a jar of onions, pickles and eggs underneath a neon takeaway sign. All the the food, down to the individual chips, has a cute face, with black beads for eyes.

Photo of a smiling lady in an apron leaning on what looks like a chip shop's heated cabinet

Artist Lucy Sparrow at the chip shop, where she serves up felt fish and chips to customers

Like Lucy Sparrow's previous installations (including the Cornershop in 2014 and the Bourdon Street Chemist in 2021), everything is for sale. It's art, so it'll cost a bit more than your local chippy. A large cod and chips meal is £450. However, prices start at £5 for a sauce sachet, so everyone can join in fully and own a part of the installation. On my desk there is now an onion, with big beady eyes and a satisfied smile, catching the light in its gold thread. When you order, Lucy or one of her assistants serves your food. She picked up my onion with felt-covered tongs and carefully put it into a paper bag before ringing it up on the card reader. It's strange to be in a place so fantastical, that is nonetheless a real functioning shop.

The installation took Lucy and her six assistants eight weeks to create and has taken over the Lyndsey Ingram art gallery in London.

When I visited, Lucy proudly pointed out her award on the counter from the National Fish and Chip Awards. It was for the most heartfelt chip shop opening.

The installation runs for six weeks until 14 September 2025, open Wednesday to Sunday from 11am to 6pm. Photos by Sean McManus. Please ask if you want to reuse them.

Round, plump pies made of brown textiles sit in foil trays inside the chip shop's hot food cabinet

The food has cute faces on it, like these friendly pies

Rows of shelves, each with many bottles of the same condiment on them including Heinz Tomato Sauce, Sarsons vinegar, and Cornish Sea Salt

Condiment bottles, also made from textiles

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