First of 50 new Yorkshire Harry Ramsden’s to open next month

ICONIC fish and chip restaurant Harry Ramsden’s is to return to its West Yorkshire home next month as part of an ambitious plan to open 50 outlets in the county.

The very first Harry Ramsden’s was opened in Guiseley in 1928 but three years ago the restaurant – located across the road from the original hut – was closed and taken over by a rival.

While there are Harry Ramsden’s in Scarborough and at Woodall services on the M1 in South Yorkshire among its 25 across UK and Ireland, when its Shipley restaurant opens next month it will mark a return to West Yorkshire for one of the country’s most cherished brands.

Harry Ramsden’s chief executive Joe Teixeira said: “It has always been a dearly held ambition to bring the Harry Ramsden’s name back to Yorkshire so I am delighted that we are able to announce the opening of Shipley.”

The 1,000 sq ft purpose-built unit on Wrose Road will create 10 jobs with further openings in Huddersfield and Sheffield planned this year.

Yorkshire franchisees Vikesh and Dimple Patel of JVP Ventures have ambitious growth plans beyond this year as they target 50 outlets across the region. They will be a mix of full service restaurants with takeaway facilities, as well as the new “traditional locals”.

“First and foremost, to be able to bring Harry’s name back to his roots is really exciting for us,” said Mr Patel. “We have spent a great deal of time and effort in identifying and securing suitable sites however that process has been made slightly easier since both Dimple and myself were born and brought up in Yorkshire.

“Time and taste move on and whilst I think comparisons will be inevitable, our new Harry Ramsden’s outlets will reflect the brand’s evolution and we are looking to the future with great confidence.”

The couple both have backgrounds in corporate finance, although for the past four years they have worked in hospitality, growing their Love Coffee chain to today’s total of 34 outlets.