30 Minutes With…Jane Squire, Squires Fish & Chips, Braunton, Devon

How did you get into the industry?

My grandparents opened the original shop in 1969 and to say it’s in our blood is an understatement. We have all grown up in the industry, starting with my dad, Michael Squire, and his brothers, and then myself and my sisters, and now my daughter is the first official fourth-generation ’employee’.  It’s a true family business and it’s an inside joke that to marry a Squire you have to first show us you can hack it in the fish shop! Luckily my mum Cherry, and my husband William could hack it and then some, and we now all run it together. 

What’s your favourite food? 

It depends on the time of day and my mood, but right now it’s the homemade fishcakes I just ‘had to quality check’ as they were being made this morning. Otherwise, it’s probably a roast dinner from my mum on a Sunday. I am pretty sure she makes it because she wants to know I eat some vegetables in a week.

Is there a food you won’t eat?

Snails, mussels, oysters, insects etc., I don’t like the idea of eating them.

Where have you had the best fish and chips?

Being blessed to live in North Devon, I don’t go out of the area a lot. But I do recall having a lovely fish and chips (and wine) at Rick Stein’s in Sandbanks a couple of years ago when the whole family managed to get away together for a night. Having a very rare night away together with my siblings and my parents made that fish and chips extra special.

What side is a must with your fish and chips?

Homemade tartare sauce. I’m not a smotherer, I’m a dipper, but I do like a lot. I actually hate gherkins, so I’m always surprised by how much I enjoy tartare sauce.

If you could open a fish and chip shop anywhere, where would it be? 

On a space station. It would be nice to get away from this planet for a little!

Do you have a favourite restaurant? 

I wouldn’t say I have a favourite restaurant but my husband and I really enjoy supporting the local restaurants around us, especially if we can couple them with a beautiful walk on the coast. I also love a double-decker bus ride, so for our recent anniversary we took the bus to Westward Ho! and had a great meal at Morans, a Thai restaurant.

What is your go-to drink?

A New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc on a nice patio on a sunny day.

What dish reminds you most of your childhood? 

Baked beans and burnt toast. Although my dad has always been a great fish and chip frier, home cooking needed a bit more practice. 

What is your guilty food pleasure?

Spoonfuls of Nutella straight from the pot!

What’s been your weirdest food combination?

I like to eat pots of mushy peas with ketchup when I need a snack at work. That’s as weird as I get!

What one piece of equipment would you love to purchase for your business?

Two new Adande drawer freezers. They would improve the efficiency of my kitchens and reduce strain and frustration for my team.