Crisps: Britain’s True National Obsession
Forget roast dinners or fish and chips. For many in Britain, the crisp is the true national dish. Sold in rustling bags instead of steaming plates, crisps deliver a satisfying crunch that speaks to something deeply cultural. British consumers devour around 10 billion bags annually, integrating them into daily routines, meal deals, picnics, and pub visits. This affection has become so entrenched that radio segments, cookbooks, and even theatrical performances now celebrate the snack.
This fascination may border on obsession. Television chefs create recipes for crisp sandwiches. Bars offer all-you-can-eat crisp buffets. Comedians joke about how best to consume the last salty fragments from the bottom of the bag. The British crisp isn’t just food. It’s social glue, comfort food, and cultural artifact rolled into one.
From Saratoga Chips to Leicester Legends
Though the crisp’s spiritual home is clearly Britain, its roots stretch back to the United States. In 1853, at Moon’s Lake House in New York, a disgruntled chef allegedly created the potato chip to spite a fussy customer. Yet even before that, in 1817, British cook William Kitchiner published a recipe titled “Potatoes fried in Slices or Shavings” — a clear forerunner of the modern crisp.
In Britain, commercialization took off in the 1920s. Entrepreneur Frank Smith began producing crisps in North London and ingeniously included small blue salt sachets inside the bags. Post-WWII, demand exploded, with companies like Golden Wonder and Walkers emerging as household names. Walkers, founded by butcher Henry Walker in Leicester, would go on to become a dominant force, producing over 11 million bags daily.
Flavored Revolution and Cultural Integration
For decades, crisps were simple — salted or not. Then, in 1954, Irishman Joe “Spud” Murphy revolutionized the market with Cheese and Onion crisps through his company Tayto. This paved the way for flavors like Salt and Vinegar, Pickled Onion, and even more eccentric experiments like Lamb & Mint or Hedgehog.
In the 1980s and 1990s, crisps went mainstream in British pop culture. Punk bands sang about them. Children collected toys and game pieces found inside crisp bags. Football legend Gary Lineker starred in decades of Walkers ads, making the crisp cool and relatable across generations. Salt and Vinegar crisps were even rebranded as “Salt and Lineker” for a time.
This deep cultural embedding turned crisps into more than snacks. They became symbols of British identity, present in school lunchboxes, workplace breaks, and family gatherings.
The Rise of Premium Crisps and Nostalgia Pairings
As the British palate evolved, so did the crisp. In 1988, Kettle Chips brought a thicker, more artisanal option to the market. These crisps, made from organic potatoes and sold in larger bags, were soon followed by brands like Tyrells and Walkers Sensations. These “posh crisps” targeted adult consumers, ideal for pairing with drinks at dinner parties.
In 2024, this elevation reached new heights with “The Crisp Sommelier,” a book pairing 185 crisp flavors with alcoholic beverages. From white Burgundy with smoked ham crisps to beer with salt and vinegar, crisps were no longer just junk food — they were culinary experiences.
Meanwhile, crisp flavors continued to evolve. Walkers now offers 125 flavors at any time, and public submissions are frequent. Yet traditional flavors like Cheese and Onion and Ready Salted remain the top sellers, reinforcing the power of nostalgia in British snacking culture.
Crisps as Cultural Touchstone
Crisps have come a long way — from humble fried slices to gourmet delicacies. They’ve bridged classes, generations, and even national borders. Whether baked, fried, posh, or classic, they remain an unmistakable part of British life.
As Stephanie Herbert from Walkers puts it, crisps are woven into Britain’s cultural fabric. From childhood treats to pub staples and now gourmet accompaniments, crisps are not just iconic. They’re personal. And in a nation with no shortage of culinary traditions, they might just be the most beloved.