A famed fish and chip shop is set to open in Stockport this weekend – and hundreds are expected to turn out. Mother Hubbard’s, a historic Yorkshire chippy that opened its first branch more than 50 years ago, will open this Saturday (11 January) just outside the town centre.
The new chippy is located on Wellington Road on the site of the Hope Inn pub. Doors will open at 11am for hungry punters and the team are putting on a special opening offer to celebrate.
To mark the occasion, diners will be able to enjoy 50% off the entire menu, which spans classics like fish and chips, pies and pasties, but also specials, jackets potatoes and meal deals. Those opening the branch have advised people to come down early. The queue will be stopped at around 8pm.
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Founded in Bradford in 1972, the purpose-built restaurant was opened by Bernard Youens and Jean Alexander, better known as Coronation Street’s Stan and Hilda Ogden. The restaurant, on Ingleby Road, cost £92,000 to fit out, with a portion of fish and chips costing just 45p at the time.
One site in Bradford became three, and then more sites began popping up in Batley, Keighley, Huddersfield and Halifax, before venturing over the Pennines with a branch in Oldham around seven years ago. And the expansion didn’t stop there, with sites now also in Salford, Bolton and Cheetham Hill.
Mother Hubbard’s is opening in Stockport this weekend
(Image: MEN)
The franchise is also known for attracting queues down the street with customers waiting from early doors and hundreds of servings handed out. It’s partly down to its opening offer of half prices meals or chippy teas for just 45p, just like when Stan and Hilda cut the ribbon back in 1972.
On the menu at the new Stockport branch, diners – who can eat in or takeaway – can expect classics like regular fish and chips for £8.75, special fish and chips for £10.45, and super jumbo portions for £16.95. All will be half price on Saturday only.
Other items on the menu include chippy staples like cheese and onion pie with the option of gravy and chips (£4.25), as well as meat and potato pie and steak pie. There’s also options such as Peri Peri and a Keema Pasty.
Specials include chicken nuggets (£3.45), hot wings (£3.95), battered sausage (£2.45) and scallops (£1.25), alongside a jacket potatoes, sandwiches, wraps, salads, and butties like the fish butty special (£9.95). There’s all the usual accompaniments too like curry sauce, gravy and mushy peas on offer from £1.25, plus a savers menu.
The fish and chips at Mother Hubbard’s Salford branch
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Speaking about the new opening, Mother Hubbard’s head chef Chris Farnell, who looks after new openings for the popular fish and chip shop, said they’re expecting hundreds to head down on Saturday morning.
“We’re opening nationwide at the moment so we have about 25 new stores opening this year so this location worked and the franchisee thought it worked,” explained Chris.
“It goes ballistic when we open with the offers of 50%, it’s bedlam actually. Our product is very good, we’ve got a wide variety of dishes to chose from, it’s not just a fish and chip shop, and there’s a lot of places to eat in the shop and we don’t charge extra to takeaway.
Mother Hubbard’s opens at 11am on Saturday, 11 January. The store will be open from 11pm daily and last orders will be at 10:30pm.
118 Wellington Rd N, Stockport SK4 2LL