Two businessmen are hoping to breathe new life into a popular Harrogate fish and chip shop and keep it as a local favourite.
Taru Pahwa and Pradeep Angoor took over Dougie’s on King Edward’s Drive three weeks ago, and said they are already getting to know regular customers.
Taru said:
“It’s good. People are liking it. There are things for us to improve, but we have had a positive response so far, and sales are improving every day.”
Known to friends as Taz and Deep, the pair each own off-licences around Harrogate, including the Number One Shop on Electric Avenue and Harlow Hill Stores on Otley Road.
Dougie’s is their first venture together, but they are old friends and play sports together, which they hope is a recipe for good team spirit.
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While Taz works behind the scenes, taking care of supplies, Deep will be in the shop day-to-day, serving customers and managing the small team.
They have already recruited kitchen staff, but are still looking for a couple of people to work front-of-house.
Taking ownership of Dougie’s has been a long aspiration for the pair, who live nearby and first looked at it when it was put up for sale by the founding family around six years ago, after running it for many years.
Taz said:
“We were new and still settling in with our businesses. It wasn’t the right time for us.”
The person who bought it in 2017 decided to sell up this year, and Taz and Deep took their chance this time.
While they have no immediate plans for change, they said they are happy to listen to what locals want. Deep said:
“The first thing we did was increase our opening hours. It was only three-and-a-half days, and now it’s six full days, including Sunday.
“I think people appreciate that. For me, I think it confuses people if you are open a couple of hours and then again later. To keep it simple, we decided to open all day.”
Deep and Taz ready to serve lunch
The hours may be longer, but the menu and prices will remain the same – despite increasing costs in the industry.
Deep said he had heard from his supplier this week that the price of potatoes will be rising by more than 20%, but that won’t be passed on to customers.
He added:
“The support from the community will be really helpful to keep us going, because of the bills and the rent itself – forget about the raw materials.
“We’re happy to take on board any recommendations and requests and work on it.”
Taz added:
“We’re introducing deliveries – in the next couple of weeks, it will be all up and running.
“It’s still early stages. Maybe in six months, a year, because there is no pizza or kebab shop, that’s something we are seriously considering. At the moment, people have to go into town for it.”
As for the name – long associated with decent fish and chips by people in Bilton and beyond – Taz and Deep are happy to honour its founder and keep Dougie’s going for years to come.
Knaresborough to get new fish and chip shopA new fish and chip shop is set to open in Knaresborough.
Fish-a-rama is expected to begin serving customers at around Easter on the site of a former Chinese takeaway on York Place.
Owner Aytach Sadik ran a fish and chip shop in London before moving to Harrogate 22 years ago.
Since then he was been involved with Chico’s and Bambino’s takeaways in Harrogate.
Mr Sadik said he had spent about £200,000 on the new family-run business, which he said will be a family business selling the best fish and chips around:
“We will only use fresh fish. The quality isn’t there with frozen fish. We will also serve grilled sea bass and bream on a barbecue.”
“Everything is brand new – from the electricity and gas to the fittings. We knocked it back to the bare walls.”
The family-run business is preparing to open.
Mr Sadik said the business intended to apply for planning permission to open an outdoor seating area with a retractable roof on the large forecourt outside.
In the meantime, customers will be able to take their orders and eat them at tables on the patio at the front.
Mr Sadik, who is 67, is coming out of retirement for the venture. He said:
“I did retire two years ago but it’s just not for me. How many days can you play golf?”
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Graveleys fish and chip shop serves first customers after 1,000 days away
Graveleys fish and chip shop in Harrogate served its first customers in more than 1,000 days today.
Owner Simon Pilkington was in town to oversee the reopening of the Harrogate institution, which appeared to have gone for good when it was sold in November 2019.
The takeaway is currently open five days a week and Mr Pilkington said he hoped the restaurant would return in about three weeks, but certainly by Easter, which he said was the trade’s busiest time of year. He said:
“It’s great to be back. My dad would have been elated today to see this if he was still alive.
“Being here has reminded me of all the good times, such as the Great Yorkshire Show week, when we were always absolutely rammed.”
Mr Pilkington said his family had no intention of selling Graveleys until Catch Seafood made an offer.
When Catch went into liquidation last year, the opportunity to return to the same site on Cheltenham Parade proved too tempting for him and his brother Andrew, who own other restaurants elsewhere.
Manager Sarah Knox holds a portion of chips.
Mr Pilkington reiterated the pledge made by manager Sarah Knox yesterday to go “back to basics”, adding:
“We will focus on providing quality fish and chips and then add some seafood delights depending on the feedback.
“Every day is a learning day. We will listen to what customers tell us and go with what they want.”
The takeaway menu includes fish and chips — either cod or haddock — for £9. The takeaway also sells a range of other fish and seafood, including squid, plus other chip shop basics, such as battered sausages and chicken nuggets.
One of today’s first customers
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Graveleys fish and chip shop to reopen in Harrogate tomorrow
One of Harrogate most famous names, Graveleys, is to make a comeback tomorrow.
The fish and chip restaurant and takeaway was a feature of Cheltenham Parade for decades until it was sold in 2019.
New owners Catch Seafood spent £250,000 refurbishing the property and introduced a champagne and oyster bar as well as cocktails.
But all five Catch restaurants ceased trading last year when the company went into administration, paving the way for Simon Pilkington, the son of former Graveleys owner Robert, to buy back the building.
The takeaway will reopen tomorrow at 11am.
The takeaway will open at 11am tomorrow and the restaurant is due to open in the next few weeks. A final date has not been confirmed.
Sarah Knox, manager of Graveleys, said the venue would be going “back to basics”, adding:
“The focus will be on fish and chips. We just want to get back to basics and serve quality products.
“We will listen to what customers tell us and adjust our menu accordingly. Come in and see us!”
Ms Knox, who has worked all her life in hospitality and was previously employed by Catch, said the new venture had come about quickly and she had spent the last week preparing for the reopening. New staff are wanted.
The takeaway will be open from 11am to 2.30pm and 4.30pm to 8pm from Tuesday to Saturday. It will be closed on Sundays and Mondays.
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- Graveley’s fish and chip restaurant to be renamed Catch Harrogate