FAMILY business Doyle’s Fisheries in Shipley has bounced back following a devastating fire.

The blaze, which destroyed the chip range and caused internal damage, took place in the summer and the fish and chip shop was closed for nearly two months for a re-fit.

Paul McNicholas, owner of the chippie - Telegraph & Argus Trader of the Week - tells us more about the “small family business with a big heart”:

My dad set it up 16 years ago and I took it over from him nearly 10 years ago. I changed the name from McNics to Doyle’s. It’s still very much a family affair - my nephew Alfie works here and my wife and mum help out on our busy Fridays. Mum still makes peas and curry for the shop. The other staff are like family to us too.

As well as fish and chips we serve sausages, scallops etc but we also offer a popular gluten free fish, in a separate rice flour batter. Not many fish and chips places will touch gluten free because it’s hard work as you have to use a different frying pans and utensils to avoid cross contamination, but it does a bring in a good trade. Importantly, we only fry in vegetable oil which brings us a wider range of customers and we fry all meat products separately.

We offer meals deals and it’s the same price to eat in as it is to take away, which is rare in most eating establishments.

Fish and chips is Britain’s national dish - everybody loves it. In Yorkshire particularly, it represents good value for money. In the middle of a cost of living crisis, it’s important that customers still have the option of eating out or having a takeaway, but not having to break the bank to do so. All our customers know we represent just that, especially as we only fry haddock which is pricey in itself, but we package it into a filling, hearty sized meal with chips which represents traditional British grub and true value for money. It’s often a once a week treat for most people and you can’t go wrong with that.

* Do you see your business as part of the local community?

Yes definitely. Well, we get to know all the regulars, get to know faces and I’m so appreciative of their support.

My dad always had sandwich shops before and he fancied a change, so he set up a chippie here in this prime location on Otley Road. We’re Shipley born and bred and so it was a no brainer that we would set up a chippie here too. He got planning permission, got a range and it’s been here ever since.

The recent fire was a massive shock. It took me a little while to get my head together around whether or not to re-open but once we got over that initial shock we all chipped (pardon the pun) in and worked at it non stop for weeks to rebuild and repaint it. The insurance helped cover a lot of it. And my own background in the building trade came in handy as I installed new bathrooms and did a lot of the refurbishing myself.

And when the new fryer range arrived, we were so excited! After seven weeks of being shut, I promoted it on Facebook and it just went crazy. We had queues coming out of the door, not just our loyal regulars but new customers who had heard about the fire and wanted to support us. All of them have given superb feedback and said the fish and chips taste even better, I think the new range has helped with that. We’re are rushed off our feet and we love it. I’m so proud of my team and how we rallied together to get the shop re-opened. We’re busier than ever. It’s amazing what you can do

Doyles Fisheries, 67 Otley Road, Shipley. Tel. (01274) 598555.