The Fish Shack is built on generations of hard work, good food and genuine community spirit. What began as a small family venture at fishery’s in the North West has grown into something much bigger, but the heart of it has never changed.
We’ve always believed that great food brings people together, and for more than five decades we’ve been doing just that – serving sustainably sourced, honest, comforting dishes made with care.
From traditional chippy favourites to the fresh, modern touches we’ve added along the way, everything we do is shaped by the same values our family started with: quality ingredients, proper cooking and a warm welcome wherever we go.
Today, The Fish Shack continues to roll forward with that same sense of pride, bringing our signature flavours to villages, events and celebrations across the region. It’s more than a business to us – it’s a family legacy, carried on with the same passion and personality that’s kept people coming back for generations.
Scroll through our timeline to learn a little more about our history, the people behind the Fish Shack, and how a small family venture grew into the food tradition we’re proud to carry on today.
Chris’s father, William Richardson, began his working life in the North West, supplying fresh fish directly to local communities and quickly earning a reputation for quality, reliability and down‑to‑earth service. His commitment to bringing people the best of the day’s catch laid the foundations for what would eventually become a proud family trade.
Chris's father begins trading on retail markets in Sandbach, Middlewich, Congleton. The business quickly expanded to Wholesale - buying fish direct from the auction market in Fleetwood, Peterhead, Aberdeen and begin supplying Fish & Chip shops throughout the North West of England & North Wales.
Chris leaves school and takes his first steps into the trade.
The Richardson's buy Bramley Chippy, a once‑loved local shop but had lost it's way. We rebuilt its reputation from the ground up - serving 99p mini fish & chips and introducing daily specials made with fish bought fresh that morning from Fleetwood’s trawler market.
Chris opens their second shop on Lord Street with a 32 seat restaurant.
The restaurant was moved to a bigger 64 seat location on Dock Street, processing fish in the back and frying in the front, all with one aim — reaching the Fish & Chip Shop of the Year finals.
Won best Fish & Chip shop in the North West of England and top 10 finalist in the National Fish & Chip Awards.
Won Best in the North West again and reached the national finals, also taking home The Good Catch Award for being judged the most sustainable Fish & Chip shop in the UK.
A double whammy! An Area Winner in the National Fish & Chip shop awards and a Finalist in the Lancashire Tourism Awards.
We were proud to have been named one of the Top 50 Fish and Chip takeaways in the UK.
Chris purchases a mobile Fish & Chip van from a customer - The Fish Shack - and the rest is history....
