We Saw the Light!

By Gary Sharples

Friday 20th March 2020, I am staring at a television in my leased public house in the Lake District and Boris has just announced that tonight, all venues must close. It was time for a long overdue change of direction at 52 years of age.

2020 was spent selling and buying a house, still during lockdown and I hit the winter without any idea of where I was heading. That was until, my son, Warren, rang from London to say, “Do you know the chippy that my Grandad used to take us to when we were kids is up for sale, the little one in Flamborough? Why don’t we buy it Dad and you can run it?!”

My wife, Jayne and our other two Sons, Liam and Luke heard the news and began to share stories about visiting there with Grandad, it was as if the shop had called out to us.

In February 2021 after a long and determined negotiation process, we were finally on our way to collect the keys. The keys opened the front door of our family-owned fish and chip shop, mainly derelict upstairs and downstairs, unopened for two years, with an overgrown garden and dilapidated out buildings.

Our family set about the restorations immediately, deciding to give Lighthouse Fisheries a full new makeover and brand relaunch, with the support of some dependable local tradesmen and the team at Milkwood studio in Bridlington, long days turned into long weeks, but things were beginning to take shape. It was now time to consider the fact that we had never owned a fish and chip shop, or even worked inside one before and maybe we should be looking for advice, direction and training. We were creating an attractive shop both inside and out and had a clear vision for the business, to create happy memories for others from this little shop, to build a fantastic core product, excellent fish, chips, and side dishes that would warm the hearts of customers.

We decided if we wanted to be the best we had to learn from the best, we contacted the NFFF and made the best decision to date by enrolling onto their training course. I took the course on my laptop in one of the unfinished upstairs rooms, face to face training was still off the agenda due to Covid.

It was during this course that I met some incredible people who were selfless with their knowledge, boundless and completely passionate about their chosen industry. Their enthusiasm to drive quality and introduce committed professional operators to the industry was infectious, they know who they are, and we will be eternally grateful for their training guidance and ongoing support, the NFFF really does feel like a second family,

Inspired, supported and driven we opened in June 2021, full of trepidation but confident in ourselves as a family to deliver what we set out to do.

Fast forward to Tuesday 28th February 2023, I am staring at my mobile phone screen on a video call with my son and business partner, Warren, he has called Jayne and I from his new workplace in America. We are seated at our table in The Park Plaza, Westminster where they are about to announce the Winner of the Best Newcomer award 2023 at the NFFF, National Fish and Chip Awards.

“And the Winner is, Lighthouse Fisheries Of Flamborough” Tears, Champagne and many many thank yous were to follow.

From Flamborough to Norway, who would have believed that our little fish and chip shop, open less than two years would have made such waves.Having been awarded the Best Newcomer award at the 2023 NFFF Fish & Chip Awards we were invited by Seafood from Norway to visit their western shores on an event packed study trip. Arriving in Alesund you are immediately taken by the beauty of this special country and the warmth of it’s people their attention to detail and obvious pride in the country and all it produces. It was no surprise then find outstanding quality in their Cod and Haddock from one of the largest stocks in the World.

As a General Manager working to provide high quality Fish & Chips to our customers in the UK, visiting the crystal clear seas around Norway, learning more about the commitments to sustainability in our profession and to return with an even greater passion to continue striving for excellence can only be positive for Lighthouse Fisheries Of Flamborough and our valued customers.

Today our journey continues with more passion and more dedication than ever to create great fish and chips memories for more of our wonderful customers. The awards have bought us customers from all over the UK & the world. I recommend you enter, it’s FREE and has been incredible for our shop.

To enter the awards www.thefishandchipawards.com/