A village fish and chip shop in Bunbury near Nantwich is at the end of an era after battering the competition for more than 20 years.
The Village Chippy owners Andy and Sharon Lewis have decided to cash in their chips to retire and spend time travelling and visiting their beloved Crete.
The couple, from Hough, have served Bunbury and residents from a wide area traditional fry ups for more for 22 years but now in their 60s the time has come to hang up their fish slice.
It all began when Andy, 68, was made redundant from Michelin Tyres, Stoke-on-Trent.
Sharon, 63, was working part-time as a district nurse in the Audlem and Wrenbury area and the chips were down for the couple with two teenage boys to care for.
It was a chance conversation that drew their attention to Bunbury.
Sharon said: “I was at work at Audlem surgery and got chatting to a health visitor Nikki who was only standing in for the day to cover sickness.
“I happened to mention our situation to her and she said: ‘Oh, I’ve seen an advert in the Chester Chronicle for someone advertising a chippy for sale.’ Nikki was from Bunbury area. The chances of that!
“Andy had previous experience in ‘cheffing’ at the Black Horse in Betley so we decided to go for it. The rest is history and we never looked back.”
After 25 years in nursing Sharon quit to join Andy in their new venture.
Along the way they have expanded the menu to include homemade pies, curries and kebabs and have maintained a five-star food and hygiene rating.
Without a chippy around for miles, they have attracted custom from a wide area including Tarporley, Tattenhall, Tiverton, Huxley and Alpraham.
Sharon added: “We’re sorry to be leaving but due to age and health we’ve made the difficult decision to hang up our chip scoop.
“We would like to thank our team and our customers old and new for their loyalty and friendship. We will miss you all.”
Highlights have included the chippy playing a starring role as Sefton’s Garage in the ITV wartime drama Home Fires set in Bunbury.
One close friend, Manos, also came over from Crete to stay with them to train in how to run a chippy and returned to run his own successful business.
Now the couple who have two sons, Christopher and Peter and four grandchildren, plus another on the way, plan to spend more time in Stalis, their favourite part of Crete where they have many friends.
Son Christopher is at the helm until the business is sold.
Their plans were posted on Facebook triggering many messages from local people expressing their sorrow and wishing them the best.
Their post read: Business lease for sale – The Village Chippy Bunbury. After 22 years in business, the time has come for Andy and Sharon to chill.
The pair thanked customers for their loyalty and “fabulous memories.”
put a manager in and pack your cases nothing is selling at the moment thanks to the government losers, dont waste your time waiting, enjoy yourself