Dudley chip shop owner: 'I'm happy my customers are back - I hope a third vehicle doesn't hit us'

Windy and cold weather on Monday didn't stop people from across the town from descending to the shop, which had balloons flying in the windows and a warm and welcoming smile and wave from owner Sofi Hickinbottom as people passed by.

Sofi, who has been running the takeaway in Dudley for 35 years, said it was a relief and a joy to be able to open the shop again and welcome back all her customers.

She said: "I'm just really happy as this is my living and I love to be able to welcome back all my customers after so long.

"They've all come back to me and they've all be so supportive, passing by every day and asking me when we're going to reopen and saying that they can't wait to see the shop open again."

Ms Hickinbottom said she also hoped it would be the last time she'd have to deal with closing due to damage caused by vehicles and said she hoped Dudley Council could do something to help her out in the future.

She said: "I'm happy the customers have come back and I really hope nothing like this is going to happen again because we had the bus crash into the shop in 2021, then we've had this car crash, so I hope this will not happen again.

"I'd like to see the council put up some studs or bollards outside the shop as that will give more security for the shop, as well as for the staff and customers inside the shop."

Inside the shop, the staff members were being kept busy with orders from customers old and young as the lunchtime crowd from the nearby shops and Dudley College came to get some of the famed orange chips from Sofi's.

Matt Partridge had been working at the shop for just over a year and said it was fantastic to see the shop back open and as popular as ever.

He said: "It's been really good as it's been a really long three months for all of us and it's great to see the customers coming back in.

"The public have been so supportive as well as when we were closed, they'd walk by and ask when we're going to reopen, so they've been just fantastic.

"The shop is special because it's had longevity in the town and hasn't really changed, with the food being as good now as it was back then and the number of people coming in is great because it keeps us on our toes and that's what we want."

Emily Benbow had been in to get her lunch on a break from Dudley College and the 17-year-old said she loved the place and the food.

She said: "They are so nice in there as you can go in and have a good talk with them and they are so friendly, so I think that's the best thing as if you're going to run a chippy, you should be able to welcome people and they do that.

"The thing that definitely makes this place is the food, which is absolutely banging and so nice, and I've bought a bag of chips as I am a die-hard fan and they make great chips here."