Seafood supplier Smales Fish Merchants is joining forces with UK Fisheries Kirkella Trawler to offer free fish and chips in Hull city centre to celebrate National Fish & Chip Day and the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
The Hull-based businesses will be stationed in the heart of the city centre next to the Cenotaph on Thursday 6th June. They will be joined by Craig Buckley, a previous winner of the Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year and owner of Hooked On The Heath Fish & Chips in Knutsford, Cheshire, who is bringing his mobile fish and chip unit to fry haddock, caught by Kirkella, and chips in return for a donation to local armed forces charity Hull 4 Heroes.
The event aims to honour the longstanding tradition of fish and chips in British culture while paying tribute to the brave servicemen and women who fought during World War II, particularly the D-Day landings.
Outside of London, Hull was the most bomb damaged city during the blitz with over 95% of the cities buildings damaged or destroyed, whilst the fishing fleet & men played a crucial role in the war effort.
Bobby Joyce, sales & marketing director at Smales Fish Merchants, comments: ”We are thrilled to collaborate with the Kirkella Trawler to celebrate National Fish and Chip Day and commemorate the historic D-Day.
”As a local business deeply rooted in Hull’s fishing industry, we are proud to give back to the community and honour the sacrifices made by those who fought for our freedom but at the same time celebrating the nation’s love for fish and chips – still a simple, nourishing and value for money meal which the UK is famous across the world for.”
Jane Sandell, CEO at UK Fisheries, owners of the Kirkella Trawler, adds: ”It is great to be part of this special event that combines Hull’s rich fishing heritage with a commemoration of D-Day.
“Our crew travel far in to the Atlantic Ocean, working in challenging conditions to produce the best wild-caught cod and haddock for fish and chip shops across the country, so we are delighted the people of our home port will get an opportunity to sample haddocks processed on board Kirkella whilst helping give back to the veterans community.”
Smales Fish Merchants is a family-owned business founded on St Andrew’s Dock in Hull back in 1937 while the Kirkella Trawler is UK Fisheries’ only remaining distant water fishing vessel.
