Chip Shops That Have Closed or Changed Hands Since We Visited

 

In 2019 we posted a blog updating readers on chip shops that had changed hands or closed down since we had visited them. We have noticed that a substantial amount have closed since then, so we thought we would post an update.

There are a number of possible reasons for chippies closing: retirement of the owners; new businesses not being able to make a going concern in the area; or the high prices of fuel and other goods. Sometimes when these costs are passed onto the customer but the food does not live up to the prices, footfall decreases and businesses fail. Reheated chips anybody? No thanks.

Are eating habits changing too? It's not just the mediocre chippies that have fallen by the wayside. Some of the higher-profile, 'award-winning' chip shops have failed to stay open as well.

Here are the headliners:

Trawler's Catch, Loughborough (which we reviewed in 2014) closed and became John Dory's second shop outside Quorn. This surprisingly closed in Summer 2023 only a few months after opening.

The Cods Scallops in Market Harborough did not manage to survive (after problems with the building). However, this small chain still has other restaurants around Nottingham.

Local press in Derbyshire covered the closure of much-loved Jackson's in Ilkeston. 84-year old owner, Dennis started out in 1961 when he was 22. The final day's takings were given to charity. We posted two blogs about Jackson's: 

Review 1

Review 2

Here are some other regional updates...

Sheffield

Betty's is no longer a chippy, it is a noodle bar.

Man Fryday now appears to be called Man Friday and our guess is that ownership has changed too.

Trawler's Catch has new owners and is now called New Trawlers Catch. The shop seems to be more given to pizzas, burgers and kebabs.

Kelham Friary that we visited in March 2018 has closed.

Site of Kelham Friary

A Salt and Battered (reviewed in 2018) has taken a battering.

Four Lanes has new owners as of April 2023. We reviewed this chip shop in April 2019.

The Cod King, Lowfield is permanently closed.

Supper Spot was turned into a residential property a couple of years ago.

Broomhead Fish and Chips where we were served wizened reheated chips have finished.

Leicestershire

Ray's Traditional Fish and Chips in the Highcross Shopping Centre has ceased trading.

Ocean Blue has closed.

Dani's became Gills and is now Supreme Fish Bar. 

Vinny's at Ibstock still has the same moniker but apparently Vinny himself has now left and new owners have taken it on.

Fish Delight (reviewed in 2017) has closed.

Granby Fisheries, which had a cafe on site and offered good quality fish and chips amongst a series of chicken takeaways and kebab shops on Granby Street has sadly closed.

The Roxy, which years ago appeared in guides of recommended chippies around the UK has closed. The food was not very good when we visited and we rated it 2 out of 5.

Andy's in Wigston is now Blue Breeze.

Ocean Breeze, which had been serving since 1960 has closed.

Raven Fryer, Braunstone is no more.

Bengali Bobs (visited in 2021) is now Shazmin's Fish and Chips.

Aylestone Fish Bar where the greasy chips left a bad after taste is now Chippy Man.

Nemo's has closed.

The Leicester branch of the Mother Hubbard's chain became Captain Haddock's.

Plaza Fish Bar is now a burger joint called The Barn.

The (less than) Perfic Plaice, Loughborough has closed.

Charlie's in Loughborough became Batter Days.

The Mobile Chippy that we tried at Peggs Green doesn't appear to exist any more.

Market Plaice Fish and Chips, Market Harborough was recently advertised as for sale.

George's at Loughborough is now another in the growing chain of Sea and Earth chip shops.

Derbyshire

Derby's Victorian indoor market has been undergoing refurbishment for over a year and the chip shop Rask's has gone.

Victoria Street Fish Bar is doing fine thanks, but has relocated due to the original premises being demolished as part of a city centre revamp.

Nicky's Fish Bar and Restaurant (reviewed in 2016) has gone.

All About Chips is not about chips any longer. 

The site of Rowditch Kitchen has changed owners more times than we can remember and never seems to make a go of it. Rowditch has been ditched.

Little Eaton Fish Bar is now Yassou Greek Kitchen.

Long Eaton Fish Bar, which served excellent quality food has changed hands. We visited again this year and found the food to be very average. 

Average fare

Johnny's Ilkeston has closed.

The chip shop in Ilkeson where we tried some terrible battered chips has changed yet again. It was called Barlow's at the time, but has gone through various alterations in the past few years: Station Road Fish Bar, Oh My Cod, then Barlow's, and now Oliver's.

Benny's Fish Bar, Ashbourne - a shop with a very friendly owner - has closed.

The Chippy, Chesterfield became a Greek takeaway and now that has closed too.

The Crooked Fryer also in Chesterfield is now The Big Fish.

Chesterfield's Spire Fryer is now the attractively named Fat Pigs BBQ.

David's of Dronfield appears to have closed and the website is down.

Wellington's Chip Shop and Cafe in Cromford is now Habib's Cromford Fish Bar.

George's Tradition in Belper is now Nik's Signature Fish and Chips. However, the new owner has done very little to alter the look of the shop. It could do with a new sign outside, rather than a temporary-looking banner.

Norfolk

Orford Plaice, Norwich where we had sole and chips in 2015 has closed.

The Chip Shop, Norwich changed hands and not for the better. The food wasn't as good when we revisited. There was an abundance of pre-prepared battered fish waiting in the hot box.

Billy's at Sprowston, near Norwich has ceased trading.

Fish 'N; Fry, Mundesley is no more.

Sheringham Fish Bar, which had been open since 1969 is now Pia Fish and Chips and Gourmet Burger.

The Bucket List have a shop in Cromer rather than a trailer and are doing good business. Their branch in Hunstanton, however, has closed.

Yorkshire

One of our favourite chip shops, Swifts in Scarborough closed down but a new chippy called Penny Black has taken its place.

Sadly, Mark's Fish and Chips that we first went to in the 1980s and reviewed in 2022 has closed due to rising costs.

Marks' Fish and Chips

On Aberdeen Walk in  Scarborough the Naylor's saga continues. The shop became Hiley's and then Bradley's. However, this latest incarnation has also closed!

Harpur's at Beverley is now Deep Blue Fish and Chips. 

Mariondale in Robin Hoods Bay is now called Fish Cottage. (Prior to that it changed its name to Maid Marion Fisheries).

Tony's Chippy, Sheepridge, Huddersfield is now called Mega Chippy.

Wacker's of York has closed but the one in Scarborough is still open.

We have heard that Silks at the Croft is no longer owned by Silks. It has changed its name to The Croft Fisheries.

Staffordshire

The traditional-looking Ball Haye Green Fish Bar in Leek closed in 2022. There had been a shop here for over 100 years, and the most recent owner had been frying for 21 years. Local news said the building would be turned into a terraced house.

Uni Chip where we had a meal for £3.40 in 2018 is permanently closed.

Mothertown Fish and Chips, Stoke-on-Trent is no more.

The Valley Fish Bar, Lichfield is now Valley Fish Bar and Pizzeria and appears to have new owners.

Nottinghamshire

Bridgford Chippy closed and is now Istanbul BBQ Kitchen.

Milly's Fish Bar in Stapleford is now called Little Chippy.

Boden's, also in Stapleford, is now Chicken Corner.

Eastwood Town Fish Bar in Eastwood closed in 2023. 

Barnby Gate Chippy in Newark (which we rated 5/5) is now called Angell's Fisheries and looks worth a visit.

London

Rock and Sole Plaice, Covent Garden is under new management.

Poppies Kiosk in Spitalfields Market appears to have closed, but the restaurant on nearby Hanbury Street is open (as are many other Poppies around London).

Hook, Camden, has been given the hook.

Lincolnshire

Sid's Golden Chippy, Stamford, which we awarded 5/5 has gone.

Burton Road Chippy, Lincoln is still open but has moved premises since we visited.

Chippies in other regions

Lighthouse, Northampton closed before our review was even published! A pity as we rated it 5 out of 5.

The Sea Tree, Cambridge has closed.

Chip Stop, Coventry has closed, as has Spires Supper Bar. The latter is now Deano's.

High Street Chippy, Macclesfield has closed.

Bene's in Edinburgh where we sampled a delicious fish supper with sauce has closed.

Hector's (est 1928) in St Helier, Jersey, has closed.

21 Fish and Chips, Congleton is now Happy Fish and Chips.

Manchipster Plaice in Manchester has gone.

Golden Chip in Bury St Edmunds that we enjoyed visiting in 2019 has closed.

Joe's Place, Cradley Heath, West Midlands has closed.

The Veggie Chippy, Birmingham has closed.

Ocean Fish Bar, Wellingborough closed in 2023.

Bewdley Road Fish Bar, Kidderminster, where we had sludgy fish in chamois leather batter is now called Get Battered.

Codswallop, Milton Keynes, that we only reviewed recently has undergone a change and is now Wstrn Grilla.

If you know of any other closures or changes please let us know!