A Harrogate unit that has been home to a number of fish and chip shops in recent years could be returning to previous ownership.

The Cheltenham Parade site was most recently occupied by Bradleys, but it – along with Bradleys' Starbeck site – shut suddenly last month for reasons still unknown.

For many years Graveleys of Harrogate operated there and forged a reputation as the town’s best-known fish and chip shop. 

Legendary TV presenter Michael Parkinson even told the Northern Echo in 2017 his favourite Yorkshire restaurants were Graveleys and Bettys.

The Catch Seafood chain bought the site in 2019 and reopened it two years later but the company went into administration in 2022.

The Graveleys name briefly returned in 2023 until Bradleys acquired the site last year.

Mystery has surrounded its future since Bradleys shut its doors, but yesterday (October 22) the old range – a commercial fryer – was being replaced by a new model and signs announced the takeaway would be reopening. 

Previous owner back?

Graham Reed-Stephenson, who opened Graveleys of Harrogate, now operates fish and chip shops in Whitby, York and Leeds.

He told the Stray Ferret he was “hopefully” going to take over the local site, but stressed a lease has not yet been agreed.

However, he confirmed the range was being fitted yesterday and hoped the site would be up-and-running by early November.

If the venture proceeds, Mr Reed-Stephenson told the Stray Ferret the fish and chip shop would be called The Fisherman’s Wife and both the takeaway and restaurant would be revived.

A company named Harrogate Seafoods Ltd, which lists Mr Reed-Stephenson and Jackson Reed-Stephenson as directors, was incorporated on Companies House on Tuesday (October 21).

The registered office address is 8-10 Cheltenham Parade — the site of the fish and chip shop.