THE Echo took a trip to Station Chippy to try out the long-awaited new fish and chip business and see what is on offer.

One thing that has eluded Basildon town centre, for a painfully long time, is a good chippy.

The cornerstone of the stereotypical English palette, a sight synonymous with any English town and city- a chippy has been absent from Basildon City Centre for years, until now.

Station Chippy fills in the gaping hole which has left Basildon residents starving for a battered sausage and chips, mushy peas, buttered rolls, and wallies. The first thing your eyes will see when coming off a bus to the city centre, the chippy has a well-lit, diner atmosphere and offers a nice place to sit in the somewhat dark and damp South Walk.

In my visit I dined on a small portion of chips, which smothered a battered sausage with the portion size and a can of coke for £7. The chips were crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and not too greasy, the sausage was fried to perfection. With salt and vinegar, station chippy’s offering holds up to any chain, like Churchills, easily and left me stuffed from the sheer size of the plate. Not bad for £7. Station Chippy should go far to delivering on the expectations of residents.