Fish and chips back on the menu as chippy reopens with traditional rebrand
When the chips were down in Pedmore, it took one of the cod-fathers of the Black Country fish and chip trade to turn it around.
And this week from Monday, customers at the newly re-branded Queensway Chippy will see the results as it re-opens as a traditional fish and chip shop.
Loucas Kourouyianni from Hasbury Chippy, Halesowen has stepped in to "pool resources" with Peter Kakkoufa who ran the former Pedmore Fish Bar. Just after Christmas Peter re-branded the shop as PK's, selling burgers, kebabs and other traditional takeaway items but not fish and chips.
The move away from fish and chips came after 45 years as a traditional chippy and was prompted by the soaring cost of fish, potatoes and cooking oil, which he said made the shop unviable.
But the move proved unpopular with Peter's previous customers, who called for the fish and chips to return and Loucas is now coming in to run it alongside his shop in Hasbury, which has operated for 24 years as a family business.
The shop has a fresh look including a new sign and branding and will open again on Monday from 4.30pm when everything will be half price for the day – Loucas and Peter are hoping it will become the plaice to be once more.
He said: "I think the people in the Queensway and Pedmore area are quite traditional to an extent and from what I have seen and heard, didn't like the move away from fish and chips.
"That being said, times are tough for the industry, there is no secret around that, prices have had to go up due to the cost of raw goods and Peter wouldn't have made the decision to go with a takeaway model if he didn't think he needed to.
"But by pooling resources, buying the fish in bulk on one order from the two shops, there is no reason why it can't thrive again – the staff have been kept on and are looking forward to the new era under joint ownership. There will be regular offers and meal deals as there is at Hasbury Chippy which has done well for me through hard work and customer loyalty
"I just hope the community support the Queensway shop and it will thrive once more as a fish and chip shop."
The new Queensway Chippy, at 51 Queensway, Pedmore will be open from 4.30pm on Monday, with a half price menu for the day.
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