Birthday deal draws hundreds to Kendal fish and chip shop (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Birthday deal draws hundreds to Kendal fish and chip shop

9:30am Monday 6th February 2012 in Business By Daniel Orr, Reporter

A COUPLE who run a chippy in Kendal sold 800 fish suppers in one day as they celebrated its first birthday.

Denise and Chris Tudor-Whelan set up Fish Express, in Highgate, one year ago, and to mark the occasion they decided to put on fish and chips for £1 for one day.

And as word spread around the town, it was all hands on deck for staff members, including Becky Bradley (pictured) as queues stretched out of the door and along the pavement for much of the day.

Denise said: “We had a very good response. We haven’t really advertised it very much so it has just been a word of mouth thing I think.”

It was a fitting way for the restaurant to thank its customers and welcome new ones after a successful first year in the business despite the ongoing economic downturn.

For the couple it is all a new experience - despite a strong retail background, this is the first business they have owned together.

Denise added: “We have had a good year. It has been a learning curve for us. This is our first fish and chip shop. We are reaching a real range of ages here, and our customers range from families to young couples. It is unique because we have a licence to sell alcohol.

“It takes a while to get people to get to know you and what you do, but I think we are getting established now.”