ARNIE’S FISH AND CHIPS

It’s safe to say that Arnie Macbeth’s fish & chip van is often a sight for sore eyes and empty stomachs, for locals and visitors alike.

Visitors don’t often realise how high the demand is for the small number of restaurant tables available on the island and they can easily go without dinner if they aren’t careful. And there’s no Deliveroo or Just Eat. The situation is similar for locals who find hotels only serving food to residents due to how busy they are in high season, and the usual eateries all booked up.

Cue the arrival of Arnie’s van and much relief all around. And yes, the fish & chips are excellent, freshly made right in front of you. Look at the size of those fillets in the picture above! Absolute whoppers. What’s even better is that Arnie runs all through the year much to the relief of everyone who is living here or visiting in the winter.

Arnie used to run a fresh seafood shop just near Skye Bridge until it was taken over to become an AirBnB a couple of years ago. Cue the change of career, with the purchase and fit-out of the van.

Assisted by Vicky Macphail, they cover the south end of Skye including Ardvasar, Broadford and Kyleakin, as well as the Skye Bridge and down to Dornie on the mainland.

One of the unintended consequences of Arnie and his van is that it becomes an impromptu meeting point for people to catch up with each other and have a chat while waiting for their haddock supper. With many of the communities being quite spread out, Arnie’s van is a bit like a magnet for everyone in the surrounding area.

Fresh fish & chips - can’t beat it!