Fish, chips and chocs

A TOTAL of 16 jobs have been created after a new fish and chip shop opened in Shaw.

Mark Armstrong, his wife Victoria and son Ben have invested some £400,000 to convert a former travel agency in Market Street into the modern chippy.

I say modern, because in my day — and my parents owned a total of four chip shops in their working lives — never sold chocolate.

In addition to the traditional cod, chips, mushy peas pies and puds, Armstrongs also boasts a sweet counter.

This innovation is directly from his first business, Armstrong’s fish and chip shop in Prestwich, which has been trading for 22 years.

“We set up in Prestwich and have been really successful there, with 18 staff. I would say it is one of the busiest fish and chip shops in Manchester,” said Mark, adding that he had been encouraged by the level of business he was enjoying in Shaw in the opening weeks.

“This is only a small operation compared with Prestwich, but I am sure it can be as successful,” he added. And as for the sweet counter?

Mark explained: “I had a regular at Prestwich who asked one day ‘why don’t you sell chocolates?’

“It turns out he had a warehouse just a few doors away.

“I went along to see him and have been selling sweets ever since. They are really popular.”