[T]he award-winning Shap Chippy has changed hands. New owners Matt and Ashley Phillips have plenty of food and customer service experience between them and since the sale was agreed in late January have been itching to get to Cumbria.
Ashley has held various retail and hospitality management positions for the past 15 years, having been a food safety trainer, fishmonger and restaurant manager in previous roles.
Matt has also held various hospitality management positions and has been working in training and development, restaurant management and running his own business previously in the south.
Matt said: “After many years of working for corporate and big blue-chip companies, we decided that our passion for food, quality and service would be best utilised working for ourselves, putting in the long hours for our own business. The Fish and Chip industry is such an exciting field which we feel we can add to and bring our passion and enthusiasm to. We had booked on the National Federation of Fish Friers Training Course before we had even discovered that Shap Chippy was on the market!
“We looked at a number of businesses across the UK but none were as attractive as Shap Chippy. It is a great business, with excellent staff, with an amazing reputation in a beautiful location in stunning Cumbria! When we viewed the business back in the January, it had been snowing and everywhere in Shap looked like a Christmas Card, it was truly breath taking.”
Established in 2013, after the previous Fish and Chip shop had been closed down, former owners Jo Hampson and Georgina Perkins renovated the business, brought new life to Shap Chippy and set high standards from the outset and are confident Shap Chippy will continue to be among the best in the country. “We couldn’t be more delighted with the new owners – they come with experience, energy and ambition and more importantly with the same focus on quality, service and staff that we have established.” said Jo.
“We are very keen to maintain the high standards set by Jo and George. To show this commitment we are about to enter into the NFFF Quality awards, the Top 50 fish and chip shop awards and will be preparing to compete for the NFFF Best Newcomers 2019.” said Ashley
Matt added: “The atmosphere in the Chippy is so amazing, the restaurant is always buzzing with locals, walkers and passers-by along with the takeaway which at times has queues out the door, but I promise it’s well worth the wait.
“While the food has a great reputation and is award winning (rest assured we aren’t going to change that) we are going to put our stamp on the Chippy itself and glam up the restaurant area with some internal improvements in keeping with the character of the village and its residents.
“We have listened to the team and the customer feedback and will be bringing some new items into the menu as ‘Seasonal Specials’, utilising Ashley’s experience as a fishmonger. The first addition to the menu being locally made traditional Steak Pies and Chicken, Bacon and Leek Pies. More to come so watch this space and we look forward to meeting you in the Chippy!”
