THE multi-award winning Shap Chippy is on the market, as its owners make plans to travel the world and pursue creative hobbies.

Re-opened in 2013 by Georgina Perkins and Jo Hampson this rural village business enjoys a national reputation.

Winning the Best Newcomer Award in the National Fish and Chip Awards in 2015 it was also listed in the top 50 Fish and Chip shops in the UK in 2016.

It has won a number of local awards including best Chippy Chips in Cumbria two years in a row but despite all the success, Georgina and Jo are ready to move on.

Jo said: “It was our plan to keep the chippy for three years – we have been here four years and it has been fantastic but it is now time to pass it on to someone who will take it to the next level.

"There is still a lot of potential in the business. We have a manager who runs a great team of highly trained staff and they are behind the success of Shap Chippy. Our fantastic reputation has resulted from a real team effort."

Nestled between the Lake District National Park and the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Shap Chippy is a thriving rural business serving customers from a wide local area as well as holiday makers and walkers throughout the year.

On a weekly basis, customers travel to the shop from as far away as Carlisle, Barnard Castle, Kirkby Lonsdale, Lancaster and Barrow.

“I plan to travel more, expand my public speaking work but I also want to put something back by mentoring other small businesses, something I did before we had the chippy,” Jo said, explaining her plans for life after the chippy.

Georgina who plays the violin in the Westmorland Orchestra hopes to spend more time on her music.

The owners are proud of what has been achieved. Georgina said: “Shap Chippy is almost more than just a fish and chip shop – it is part of a community and we would love to sell the business to someone who will come to care as much about the business, the staff and the community as we do.”