Doyle's Fisheries, Shipley reopens after devastating fire

Firefighters were called to Doyle's Fisheries, on Otley Road in Shipley, earlier this summer.

A month previous, the shop had only just featured as one of 10 fish and chip shops across the district to be shortlisted for the Telegraph & Argus’ Best Chippy 2024 competition.

West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service told the Telegraph & Argus crews dealt with a blaze involving a chip range.

The emergency scene following the fire (Image: Newsquest) At the time, owner Paul McNicholas said he first heard about the fire when a friend called him.

Police then told him his dad was in the shop at the time of the blaze, trying to put it out.

It resulted in Mr McNicholas' being taken to hospital and put on a drip.

Thankfully his dad has made a fully recovery and the chippy has been able to reopen after almost two months closed.

The chippy had a refurb whilst it was closed (Image: UGC) Speaking to the Telegraph & Argus, Mr McNicholas said: "It was devastating. It really was awful.

"It was the most traumatic time that we have had in 16 years here.

"I did not know what to do with myself when it first happened. It was the shock of it all and the mess it caused.

"We were filtering the pans and one of the pans went up in flames. The range was destroyed."

With little internal damage, it was replacing the range that meant Doyle's Fisheries remained shut.

The shop reopened last Friday (Image: UGC) Mr McNicholas said the insurance did pay out but it has still be a hit financially.

He added: "The financial side of it has not been good at all but we will get through it and everything will be okay."

The incident has led to a total shop refit with fresh paint and new toilets and signage.

A new range was bought (Image: UGC) Mr McNicholas would like to say a special thank you to all his loyal customers who stuck with his business and returned last Friday.

He said: "I had to have a new range built which took four weeks to manufacture.

"That got built and was installed last week then we reopen on the Friday.

"It has gone absolutely crazy since we reopened. We have had all the regulars back and loads of new customers as well. It has been absolutely manic."

He added: "It has been pretty overwhelming all the support we have had from our customers."