Customers joked the takeaway would be getting a ‘blue plaque soon’ for its frequent celeb visits
The Ree Ming chippy, on Oldham Road in Royton, has received top praise from a bunch of celebrities(Image: Ree Ming)
A popular chippy in Greater Manchester has been visited by yet another famous face – just a month after a top film star heaped praise on the takeaway.
Last month, actress Olivia Cooke, who has appeared in shows like House of the Dragon, Slow Horses and Bates Motel, hailed Oldham chip shop Ree Ming as ‘brilliant’ in a recent interview where she was asked for her top food picks.
The Oldham-born actress said the family-run takeaway, which is situated on Oldham Road, has ‘so good’ gravy and is one of only a handful of places where you can come away with change from a fiver for a meal.
But it’s not just Olivia who can now be claimed as a famous fan of the chip shop, which has been running for 55 years now. Last week, the Royton takeaway, which is run by owner Kwok Wong, shared a post of another celebrity visitor – in the form of Professor Brian Cox.
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Professor Brian Cox visited Oldham chippy Ree Ming last week(Image: Ree Ming/Kwok Wong)
Also an Oldham native, Professor Cox has made a name for himself as a TV presenter of many popular science programmes, including Horizon and Stargazing Live.
Posting on Facebook alongside a photo of the scientist on Thursday (October 16), owner Kwok wrote: “Look who just been in Ree Ming chippy. Professor Brian Cox.”
Some of the takeaway’s regular customers took the opportunity to share their excitement and revel in the fact the TV star had visited. Some even grabbed a chance to make puns based on his past involvement in 90s band D:Ream, with one person writing: “D:Ree-Ming – Things can only get batter.”
“Watch out Kwok, he’ll be trying to separate the molecules of the secret recipe gravy,” one customer joked. Another commented: “He’s come to try the famous gravy.” One other added: “Local lad staying local.”
House of the Dragon actress Olivia Cooke praised the takeaway’s “great value” pie, chips and gravy (Image: Ree Ming)
Others also took the opportunity to remind the owner of the chip shop’s lure of famous faces. One person wrote: “Chippy to the stars”. Another added: “You’ll be getting a blue plaque soon Kwok.”
According to Kwok, Professor Cox ordered his ‘favourite Beef Curry’, which means there are now at least two superstar-recommended dishes on the menu. After Cooke recommended their meat and potato pie with chips and gravy, Kwok told the M.E.N about why their gravy is so loved.
“We make our own gravy for many years,” he explained. “It’s my dad’s recipe and it’s gorgeous – you can’t get it in the cash and carry, put it that way.”
Kwok said they have also been visited in the past by the likes of former soap stars Shobna Gulati and Kelvin Fletcher, but added: “I’m useless with faces and stars, I work hard all day and then go home at night.”
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