Closed double-fronted fish & chip shop, central Morecambe

Key features

• Double freehold corner premises with two Hopkins 3-pan ranges
• Self-contained 2-bedroom flat plus newly converted studio included with freehold
• Same hands for 21 years, originally purchased through Rosens in 2003
• Freehold offered at £250,000 or new lease on lock-up shop at £22,000
• Heart of Morecambe, minutes from the Promenade and the £80m Eden Project North

About this business

A substantial corner-terrace double freehold in the heart of Morecambe, fitted and equipped as a fish & chip takeaway with two Hopkins 3-pan ranges already in situ. The current owner bought the business through Rosens in 2003 and ran it for 21 years before bereavement forced its closure — it now offers a capable operator or first-time buyer with some catering experience a turnkey re-opening, with the option of taking the freehold (including a 2/3-bed flat and a separate studio) at £250,000 or a new lease on the lock-up shop alone at £22,000.

Trading figures

The shop has been closed for some time following the owner's bereavement, so there are no current trading figures to disclose. The location supports normal takeaway hours and a fitted, equipped premises in a populated seaside catchment — the proposition is a re-opening rather than a going concern, well suited to a capable operator or a first-time buyer with some catering experience.

Trading hours

The premises are currently closed. The location is suitable to trade normal takeaway hours, which will be evident upon viewing.

Business premises

An impressive, substantial corner-terrace property with a dual-aspect frontage and an angled entrance leading into a spacious, well-appointed interior. The customer area is finished with tiled flooring and part-tiled walls, with timber seating fronting the service counter, and a Hopkins 3-pan wall range sitting behind it to the rear. The layout flows through to a well-apportioned preparation space fitted with base units and stainless-steel sink units, with an adjacent potato room housing a second Hopkins 3-pan range, a chipper and a rumbler. A basement cellar provides additional storage. On-street parking runs along the front and side of the property, with a car park to the rear.

Trade equipment

The headline items are two Hopkins 3-pan ranges — one on the wall behind the counter, the second in the dedicated potato room — widely regarded as the gold standard for British fish & chip ranges. Also included: rumbler, chipper, fish fridge, six-pot bain-marie, warming display cabinet, kebab machine, grill, four-ring hob, double-bowl stainless-steel sink and preparation table, chest freezer, and base units with work surfaces. A full inventory will be provided prior to completion. (Items have not been formally tested — buyers should commission an independent inspection.)

Accommodation

Included in the freehold sale only: a self-contained flat with its own separate side entrance, leading up to a spacious lounge, a kitchen/diner, two bedrooms and a bathroom. Alongside it sits a separately accessed, newly converted studio flat well suited to holiday letting. Neither flat is included if the lock-up lease option is taken.

Trading position

In the heart of the popular Lancashire seaside resort of Morecambe — close to all the seaside amenities and commercial outlets, set within a well-populated residential catchment, and only a few minutes' walk from the main Promenade. The forthcoming £80 million Eden Project North on the seafront sits to the north of the town and is set to materially increase visitor numbers. A genuinely strong location to exploit, which will be evident upon inspection.

Special remarks

Our client purchased the business through Rosens in 2003 and traded it under the same hands for 21 years; following her husband's bereavement she was forced to close the shop, and is now selling. The opportunity is ripe for a trade builder or first-time buyer to re-open the concern, run a marketing campaign across the surrounding area, and — importantly — add the delivery service that today's market expects. The premises suit fish & chips as fitted, but the layout and equipment lend themselves equally well to a range of other cuisines. Freehold at £250,000 (including the 2-bed flat and studio) or a new lease on the lock-up shop alone at £22,000.