Pat ‘Pops’ Newland

Poppies takes its name from born and bred East-ender Pat ‘Pops’ Newland who captained the ship and steered it on its way. Pops career began in the fish and chip business aged 11, when he got a job on the Roman Road cutting up The Daily Mirror newspaper to wrap fish and chips in for takeaway.

Half a century on, Pops realised his lifelong dream and founded his own place in Spitalfields using his passion for fish and chips, decades of experience and love of British popular culture to create an award-winning restaurant filled with warmth, charm and retro memorabilia collected throughout his life.

Pops is sadly no longer with us, but Poppies continue to pay homage to his vision and his presence is still in our hearts and minds.