fish and chips Archives - Page 2 of 2

Harrogate’s former Graveley’s fish and chip restaurant closes

Catch Seafood, which bought the former Graveley’s fish and chip restaurant in Harrogate, has closed.

A spokesman for the company confirmed today all five Catch restaurants had ceased trading and the company had gone into administration, with the loss of 60 jobs.

It is the third major blow for Harrogate’s hospitality sector in a matter of days, with Samsons restaurant and restaurant and cocktail bar 63rd+1st also closing.

Catch bought Graveley’s in 2019 and reopened the restaurant on Cheltenham Parade in April last year after a £250,000 refurbishment.

Changing such a well known name was controversial.

Many people made a beeline for Graveley’s on trips to Harrogate, with former chat show host Michael Parkinson once describing his perfect day as watching Joe Root score a century in an Ashes Test at Headingley followed by a big plate of fish and chips at Graveley’s.

A Catch spokeswoman said at the time the restaurant reopened.

“Graveley’s is an institution in Harrogate so we appreciate it is going to be a big thing to change the name.”

The new venue boasted a champagne and oyster bat as well as cocktails. But 18 months on it has served its last customer.

Catch also had fish and chip restaurants in Holmfirth, West Vale, Headingley and Street Lane.

The spokesman for the company said today he had been advised not to comment until the liquidation process was underway.

Graveley’s set to re-open this month under new owners

Famous Harrogate fish and chip restaurant Graveley’s is to re-open under its new name Catch in a fortnight.

The business was sold two years ago to Harrogate-based Catch Seafood, which owns four other fish and chip restaurants in Yorkshire.

The site on Cheltenham Parade has undergone a £250,000 transformation during lockdown, and will open as a takeaway on April 19.

The restaurant is due to open in May in line with government restrictions.

A press release by Catch today said the kitchen had been upgraded and the menu would be broadened.

It added:

“A new bar area has also been incorporated into the refitted restaurant, which will serve a range of draught products, delicious cocktails and fantastic wines.

“Exclusive to Catch Harrogate is a champagne and oyster bar for diners to enjoy.”

Sarah Stuttle, managing director at Catch, said:

“Graveley’s has been a part of the local community for a long time, and we’re excited to welcome these loyal customers to Catch, as well as some new faces, when we reopen.”

The Catch group also has fish and chip restaurants in Holmfirth, West Vale, Headingley and Street Lane.

The company, which describes itself as ‘a casual seafood dining experience built on family values’, is owned by three Yorkshire-based entrepreneurs — Patrick Allen, Andrew Bartle and Philip Rushfirth.

Harrogate chippy sells deep fried creme eggs

A Harrogate fish and chip shop has put an unusual twist on the Cadbury’s Creme Egg by dipping them in batter and frying them.

Sophie Phillips, who owns Harrogate Fisheries on Skipton Road with her partner Tim, said the cream egg innovation “sounds totally wrong” but they have been a hit with customers.

We took the unusual delicacy to the people of Harrogate who gave their verdict.

Watch the video below:

Although the eggs won’t break the bank at a cost of £1.50 each or three for £4, their calorie content is unconfirmed.

Sophie added:

“We had some Creme Eggs and a member of staff wondered what it would taste like deep fried.

“We tasted it and thought wow — this is pretty nice!”

“It’s not to everybody’s tastes. It’s just a bit of fun but it’s got people talking. It’s just a naughty treat.”

Ripon fish and chip shop could be turned into flats

The Jolly Fryer fish and chip shop in Ripon could be turned into flats after becoming a victim of coronavirus restrictions.

The business has been run by the same family for over 35 years, but has remained closed since the covid pandemic began in March.

A planning application submitted to Harrogate Borough Council said the restaurant “cannot viably” re-open due to its narrow size and social distancing guidelines.

The owner of the building wants to convert it into one one-bedroom and two two-bedroom flats.

Several businesses have announced closures in Ripon this year, blaming the pandemic, including Wrens department store, Leeds Building Society, and the Old Deanery hotel.

Read more:

The Jolly Fryer building dates back to the early 18th century and is situated on Allhallowgate, which is one of the oldest streets in the town centre.

The street dates back even further to the earliest known pre-medieval urban settlements in Ripon, when the city was centred on a north-south thoroughfare connecting the minster with the now-demolished Celtic monastery.

Harrogate chippy surviving despite major roadworks

Despite major roadworks happening outside a fish and chip shop in Harrogate, the owner said it is still surviving.

Harrogate Fisheries on Skipton Road remained open throughout lockdown. However, major roadworks lasting 14 weeks have now started right outside the shop.

Despite parking issues during the day affecting lunch time service, owner Tim Phillips told the Stray Ferret that it “could have been a lot worse.” He said:

“Parking is difficult here at the best of times so people are just not coming during the day, its chaos. In the evenings though the traffic dies down so business becomes much better.”

The fish and chip shop is open Tuesday to Saturday, 11:30am – 8pm.

Tim said that they were given a warning a week before, but it didn’t highlight the extent of the work taking place. During lockdown, the fish and chip shop has been delivering meals to the elderly and care homes. He is optimistic the shop will survive

“We are heading in the right direction; we just aren’t there yet. We are surviving, the team are getting paid and the elderly are getting their food. We have a very loyal customer base and it’s great to see people coming back to the shop again.”

Despite Harrogate welcoming the Eat Out to Help Out scheme this week, Tim says it has not had an impact on his takeaway business. He told the Stray Ferret that he has seen record numbers this week from Monday to Wednesday.

End of an era for Knaresborough fish and chips shop

It is the end of an era for a Knaresborough fish and chips shop, as the family owners prepare to move on after 14 years.

John and Ellie Anderson plan to put in their last shift at Chain Lane Fisheries on August 22.

They have found a buyer to take on the shop, which has had just four owners since it opened in 1938.

Mrs Anderson explained to the Stray Ferret why they have decided to sell the business:

“The time is right for us to move on. We have thought about it a lot and we came to the decision during the coronavirus lockdown. We have loved it here. The customers are amazing.”

Mr Anderson added it will be emotional to say goodbye to the shop after so many years:

“It is a lot of our life. It’s funny because our children are in their 20s now and they were nine and 11 when we started. We have been very busy during coronavirus. There were no pubs to compete with and the weather was lovely.”

The couple said they have been inundated with nice comments from customers since they announced they were moving on.