Today is National Fish and Chip Day, so what better time to see whether reporter David Jagger would take a battering in a man vs food challenge at a local chippie?

IN honour of National Fish and Chip Day today, a local restaurant started a new challenge that really does pit man against food.

The Wetherby Whaler, in Bradford Road, Guiseley, has unveiled its Fish ’n’ Impossible challenge, and is inviting food lovers with huge appetites to come along and have a go.

The meal includes a 1lb fried haddock, a mountain of chips, onion rings, four slices of bread, mushy peas, baked beans, and curry sauce, weighing in at a whopping 4.25lbs and more than 3,000 calories.

If you can successfully complete the meal in 40 minutes or less, you win a T-shirt and a place on the restaurant’s wall of fame.

To officially begin the challenge, I was invited along to see if I could conquer it.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

The plate, quite simply, was enormous. The fish was at least 50 centimetres long, and as I tucked into the chips it seemed never-ending.

I tackled the fish first and managed to devour it in less than ten minutes – my optimism was high.

However it wasn't long before I hit the wall, which was in the shape of a huge pile of chips.

As I approached the halfway point of the challenge, I was getting close to my limit.

By the time 40 minutes was up, around a quarter of the chips were left, I had only managed two onion rings, half the mushy peas and most of the curry sauce.

My beans and bread were untouched, but I was fit to burst.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The challenge proves too much

The meal isn’t called Fish ’n’ Impossible for nothing, and anyone who can finish it has well and truly earned their spot on the wall of fame.

Ryan Dean, manager at Wetherby Whaler, said the idea for the challenge came from watching the Man vs Food television programme.

He said: “A lot of restaurants do these kind of things nowadays.

“It’s something we have been discussing for a while, and with it being National Fish and Chip Day, what better day to launch it on?

“When we have looked at some of the eating challenges at other places, ours isn’t as big as some of them, but I think the carbohydrate content of ours will be pretty filling.

“No-one had actually tried the whole thing before, I’ve had a go at the fish part and couldn’t eat much more.

“We don’t really know the best tactic for tackling it yet. Whichever way the chips are the hardest bit, but we have plenty of Yorkshire Tea to wash it down.”

As I approached the end of the challenge, Mark Savage, head chef and the man who cooked the fish, paid a visit to see how his creation was faring.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Chef Mark Savage helpfully offers some bread

“It’s definitely a challenge,” he said.

“The stack of chips was the biggest problem, but I was delighted to see you tackle the fish, that’s the best bit. A line-caught haddock fillet, it’s the best money can buy.

“You’ve done very well, but were suffering a bit.

“We are setting up a wall of fame and winners will get a T-shirt, but I don’t think there will be many extra small T-shirts for the winners!”

Fancy having a go yourself? The challenge costs £24.99. To book, call 01943 884228.

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