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The white front of the Carron Fish Bar in Stonehaven with its sign about the deep-fried Mars bar.
Aberdeenshire

The Carron Fish Bar

The Stonehaven chip shop where, the story goes, the deep-fried Mars bar was first fried, in 1992.

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Welcome

The Carron's claim to fame is the deep-fried Mars bar.

In 1992, when this was still called the Haven Chip Bar, two fifteen-year-olds from Mackie Academy up the road, John Davie and Brian McDonald, were in for their lunch and daring each other to try something disgusting. Evelyn Balgowan, behind the counter, battered a Mars bar and put it in the fryer.

The idea took a while to travel, until the Evening Express wrote about it in the summer of 1995. Then the papers took it round the world, and it has never really stopped. There is a plaque in the shop to the three of them.

The Carron still fries them, and visitors still come from all over to try one, often straight after a fish supper. The fish and chips are the other reason to come: eat them on the sea front a few steps away, with the gulls watching. Orders can be placed online.

Close byThe Ship InnAn inn of 1771 on the edge of Stonehaven harbour, with malts, real ale and a sun terrace.1 min by roadSee itThe white front of the Ship Inn on Stonehaven harbour.
Before you go

A chip shop near the sea front in Stonehaven.

Orders can be placed online.

Where
Stonehaven.
Where it is

Stonehaven.

Close byAround Stonehaven.
  1. StonehavenStonehavenUnder a mile1 min by road
  2. Connie & Ruby's shop interior with a red counter and colourful trinketsMy Beautiful CaravanUnder a mile1 min by road
  3. The white front of the Marine Hotel on the harbour at Stonehaven.The Marine HotelA harbourside bar serving the beer of its own brewery, six°north, and some of the best from Belgium.Under a mile1 min by road
  4. Plated chicken with tagliatelle and artichoke on a white-clothed restaurant tableTolbooth Seafood RestaurantA seafood restaurant upstairs in Stonehaven's Tolbooth, the town's oldest building, on the old pier, with fish landed in the harbour below.Under a mile2 min by road
  5. Man in chef's cap leans from serving hatch at thebayfishandchips.comThe Bay Fish & ChipsUnder a mile2 min by road
Directions
The white front of the Ship Inn on Stonehaven harbour.BarsThe Ship Inn0.3 miles
The ice-cream counter at Aunty Betty's under its painted ceiling.CafeAunty Bettys0.6 miles
Swimmers and sunbathers round Stonehaven's open-air pool on a sunny day.AttractionsStonehaven Outdoor Pool0.6 miles
A ruined clifftop castle enclosed by sea stacks, waves breaking against the rocks belowAttractionsDunnottar Castle2.5 miles
The white-streaked sea cliffs of Fowlsheugh above blue water, a seabird in flight.AttractionsRSPB Scotland Fowlsheugh4.5 miles
Waterfall dropping from grassy cliffs into a sheltered sea inletAttractionsRSPB Fowlsheugh4.5 miles
Grass-topped limestone cliff with a thin waterfall dropping into the seaAttractionsCrawton Waterfall4.6 miles
The white Creel Inn at Catterline with its sign, a lobster creel on the terrace.RestaurantsThe Creel Inn6.2 miles
Brae's bright café room, a counter of bakes and tables by big windows.CafeBrae at Chapelton6.3 miles
Stay nearby

Places to stay near The Carron Fish Bar, and when each is next free.

Timber cabin with metal roof and decking surrounded by woodland treesNorth Lodge and River Cabin
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Banchory
  • 14 miles from The Carron Fish Bar
Free 11–13 NovA stone farmhouse covered in climbing ivy stands behind a gravel drive, seen through overhanging pine branches.Cuttieshillock
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Strachan
  • 14 miles from The Carron Fish Bar
Free 16–18 OctA stone cottage with dormer windows sits behind a low blue gate, a rose-covered archway framing the front door.Gamekeeper’s Cottage
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Strachan
  • 14 miles from The Carron Fish Bar
Free 2–4 NovA stone steading with a slated pyramid roof and a chimney stands behind a green nameplate sign, a chair visible through the window.No 2 Steading Cottage at Glendye
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Strachan
  • 14 miles from The Carron Fish Bar
Free 18–20 OctPlaces to stayEvery stay in AberdeenshireAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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