Jellied eels are a traditional dish from the East End of London. It’s sold by street vendors, although it can more usually be found in ‘pie and mash’ shops. It is commonly eaten with another East End delicacy ‘pie, mash and liquor’ – which used to be made with eel fat. Beef or lard is more common nowadays.

The eel was a readily available food resource for the capital, with eel fisheries in the Thames until pollution killed them off – they are back again now, in the cleaner river.