Roysters Crisps: The Complete Guide

Roysters are T-Bone Steak flavoured bubble chips made by KP Snacks. They launched in the UK in 1992 and are still in production. They are suitable for vegetarians but not vegan or gluten free. There is only one flavour.

Roysters are one of those snacks that have been quietly sitting on the same shelf, in the same packaging, with the same single flavour, for over 30 years. While other brands launched limited editions, rebrands, and seasonal varieties, Roysters just kept making T-Bone Steak crisps. That consistency is either deeply reassuring or mildly baffling depending on how you feel about it.

The format is genuinely unusual. Bubble chips sit in a category of their own. The texture is puffier than a standard crisp, crisper than a corn puff, and the surface area makes it excellent at holding seasoning. The T-Bone Steak flavour is bold, beefy, and more straightforwardly satisfying than the name would have you expect.

What Are Roysters?

The basics

Roysters are described on KP Snacks’ own website as the UK’s only original American-style bubble chips. The bubble chip format comes from the manufacturing process: dried potato and rice flour are combined and then puffed during cooking to create the uneven, blistered surface. It gives them a lighter, airier bite than a sliced potato crisp while still delivering a genuine crunch.

The T-Bone Steak seasoning is savoury and meaty. It does not taste like an actual T-Bone steak, which would be an unreasonable expectation from a small foil bag, but it delivers a strong beef flavour with a slightly smoky, umami edge that works well with the light base.

Who makes Roysters

Roysters are made by KP Snacks, owned by Intersnack Group. KP Snacks are also responsible for Hula Hoops, McCoys, Skips, Nik Naks, and Tyrrells. Their consumer services address is Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire.

The format

The name bubble chip is not widely used in UK marketing outside of KP Snacks’ own descriptions, but it accurately describes what Roysters are. The bubbling happens during the frying process when the moisture in the dough expands rapidly. Each chip ends up irregular in shape, which is part of the appeal. No two Roysters look exactly alike.

The History of Roysters

How they started

Roysters launched in the UK in 1992. KP Snacks developed them as an American-inspired snack in a market that was increasingly open to formats beyond the traditional sliced potato crisp. The 1990s saw a wave of new snack shapes and textures arrive in the UK, and Roysters sat alongside products like Quarter Back crisps and Pom Bears as part of that wave.

The T-Bone Steak flavour has been the only flavour since launch. In over three decades, KP Snacks have not introduced a second variety. This makes Roysters unusual in a category where brand extensions are the norm.

The 90s heyday

The 90s were good to Roysters. They were widely stocked in supermarkets, newsagents, and school tuck shops, and the American steak flavour was a point of difference in a market dominated by ready salted, cheese and onion, and salt and vinegar. The beef flavour sat alongside Monster Munch Roast Beef and Walkers Roast Chicken as a category of savoury, meaty crisps that had a strong following.

Where they are now

Roysters are still in production and still available in UK supermarkets. They are not as prominent as they were in the 90s but they have never gone away. Multipacks of 6 x 21g bags are the standard format. A larger 65g bag is also available through some retailers.

Roysters: Flavours

T-Bone Steak

There is one flavour. T-Bone Steak. It has always been T-Bone Steak. KP Snacks’ own website describes it as their “classic T-Bone Steak flavour” and has shown no signs of changing that position.

The flavour is produced through a seasoning blend that includes rice flour, salt, dried yeast extract, and milk-derived ingredients. The milk content is what rules out vegans and anyone avoiding dairy. Despite the name, there are no meat-derived ingredients in Roysters.

Has there ever been another flavour?

Not in the UK. Roysters have had promotional packaging over the years but T-Bone Steak has remained the only variety throughout their production history.

Roysters: Ingredients and Dietary Information

Ingredients

Dried Potato, Sunflower Oil (31%), Rice Flour, T-Bone Steak Flavour (Rice Flour, Salt, Flavourings containing Dried Whey from Milk, Dried Skimmed Milk, Dried Yeast Extract, Sugar, Maltodextrin, Spices), Wheat Starch, Wheat Flour (with Calcium, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Emulsifier: Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids. May contain Milk.

Always check the current packaging as recipes can change.

Are Roysters vegan?

No. Roysters contain dried whey from milk and dried skimmed milk in the seasoning. They are not suitable for vegans or anyone avoiding dairy. The beef flavour is achieved through natural flavourings rather than meat-derived ingredients, but the dairy content makes them unsuitable for a vegan diet.

Are Roysters vegetarian?

Yes. Despite the T-Bone Steak branding, Roysters contain no meat ingredients. KP Snacks confirm they are suitable for vegetarians.

Are Roysters gluten free?

No. Roysters contain wheat starch and wheat flour. They are not suitable for anyone avoiding gluten, including people with coeliac disease.

Calories and nutrition

Each 21g multipack bag contains approximately 113 calories. The larger 65g bag contains around 350 calories. Roysters are cooked in sunflower oil.

Also Worth Reading

Kettle Chips: The Complete Guide

Kettle Chips are hand-cooked potato crisps made in Norfolk using 100% British potatoes. They are the UK's leading premium hand-cooked crisp brand.…

11 min read Read article →

Per 100g roughly: energy around 540 kcal, fat around 27g, carbohydrates around 62g, protein around 5g. Always check individual packaging for the most current nutritional information.

Where to Buy Roysters

Supermarkets

Roysters multipacks are available in Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, and Morrisons. They are typically stocked in the multipack crisps aisle rather than the standard crisps section. Availability can vary by store.

Online

You can search for Roysters on Amazon for multipacks and bulk quantities, or find Roysters on eBay where cases of 30 or more bags sometimes come up at good prices. Buying in bulk is worth considering if you go through them regularly.

Other KP Snacks to try

If you like Roysters you will probably get on with other KP Snacks in the bolder flavour category. McCoys deliver a ridged crunch with strong seasoning. Wheat Crunchies are another KP product with an unusually distinctive texture. Both are available in supermarkets and online.