Barland Shopfitting UK has transformed a tired Chinese takeaway into a modern fish and chip shop with bifold doors and all-new equipment
Having had experience running successful fish and chip shops in London and Harrogate, Sadik Aytach saw the potential in turning a run-down Chinese in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, into a modern fish and chip shop.
In April, after six months in the making, Sadik flipped the sign to ‘open’ and pulled back the bifold doors on Fish-A-Rama.
“It took a long time to get it all already, but it’s beautiful. Everything has been done perfectly and it’s so clean and easy to work in,” says Sadik.
Appointing shopfitters Barland to oversee the refurbishment, the team took charge of everything from stripping out and taking the walls back to bricks, to putting in new electrics, plumbing, tiling, ceilings, a prep room and menu boards.
“Barland were great,” says Sadik. “They planned it all out for me and sent me a 3D model which was good because I could visualise the finished shop – and it looks exactly as I was shown.”
Advising on the layout as well as creating the branding and the colours, Sadik felt the benefit of dealing with just one business, adding: “It was a lot less headache dealing with one company rather than 10!”
The takeaway features a range of modern touches but the one Sadik and his customers find most striking is the floor-to-celling image of Knaresborough Bridge, an iconic site in the town. “It looks really nice. All my customers come in and adore the picture,” he says.
A new shopfront and signage have lifted the business while bifold doors will transform the takeaway even further come the winter.
“We wanted bifold doors because we plan to have a winter garden at the front of the property with a retractable roof and seating for 40 people,” explains Sadik.
As well as their new surroundings, customers are enjoying the menu which includes a selection of grilled fish cooked on a BBQ over charcoals.
Sadik adds: “What we tried to do was not be a fish and chip shop like the rest of the fish and chip shops. We use vegetable oil where everyone around us uses beef dripping, we use only fresh fish, and we have the grilled options, which have got a lot of positive responses as they are a healthier alternative.”
Working with Barland, Sadik is happy to report that everything ran like clockwork, adding: “Barlands said to me the work would take two months to complete. It was finished on time and ran smoothly with no hiccups.”
Barland Shopfitting UK 01274 230687 www.barlandsfuk.com
