THE tradition of a Friday night fish and chip supper has not changed for generations in Dorset.

And the owners of fish and chip shops in and around Dorchester and Weymouth still enjoy a roaring trade from both locals and tourists.

With at least 26 fish and chip shops to choose from there is plenty of choice.

From family run traditional shops handed down from generation to generation to young entrepreneurs successfully building a local empire, it’s certainly a sustainable business in the area that shows no sign of slowing down.

You only have to visit one of the fish and chip shops listed in our guide to see queues of people waiting for the nation’s favourite of cod and chips.

Let us know where your favourite fish and chip shop is by emailing your recommendations to taste@dorsetecho.co.uk or sending it to Miriam Phillips at Dorset Echo, Fleet House,Hampshire Road, Weymouth, DT4 9XD.

• Entrepreneur's new empire

A WEYMOUTH entrepreneur has built an empire of fish and chip shops in Dorset.

Family man Daniel Petit, 39, has now opened his seventh Daniels Fish and Chips shop in Dorset and is proud of what he has accomplished in the last 17 years.

As a former estate agent he opened his first shop in Abbotsbury Road in 1996 and turned the shop’s reputation around with his iconic branding and high standards.

From there the Daniels brand grew and grew and now has opened shops in Littlemoor, Fortuneswell, Wyke Regis and others in Broadstone, Christchurch and Poole.

He said it is crucial to be completely happy with the standards, reputation and business in one shop before thinking about opening another. Daniel said: “Fish and chips is one of those industries where there have been very few changes.

“It’s a traditional business that has not had to change too much and people are lifelong customers.”

He said his busiest time throughout all the shops is always Friday night, despite the time of year and his most popular dish is cod and chips.

His small chain of shops sees a whopping 350,000 customers go through the doors of a Daniels Fish and Chip shop every year and he employs 85 people.

His expansion through Dorset in the past few years has been steady but Daniel insists it is crucial to invest the profits from the shops back into the business, which in turn invests money and provides jobs to the local area.

When asked what the secret of good fish and chips is, he said: “It’s about getting the best quality cod, best potatoes, best oil, the right equipment and making sure the staff are trained well.”

Daniel said he chooses locations for his shops that are residential to build up his custom so it does not rely on the seasonal tourist trade.

He added: “Our customers are the lifeblood of our business.

 

• Fish and chip shops

Weymouth: Alfs Fish and Chips, Lynch Road; Bennett’s on the Waterfront, Trinity Road; Captains Table, Frederick Place; Caviar Place, Radipole Lane; Daniels Fish and Chips – Littlemoor, Abbotsbury Road, Portland Road in Wyke Regis; Fish & Fritz, Market Street; King Edwards, The Esplanade; Little Sea Fish Bar, Lynch Lane; Marlboro Restaurant, St Edmund Street (next to the town bridge); Mister Chips. Lennox Street; Sea Chef, King Street; The Harlequin Grill, The Esplanade; The Old Harbour, St Edmund Street; The Regency Fish Bar, Dorchester Road; Weymouth Fish & Chips, Buxton Road, Weymouth.

Dorchester: Case & Brewer, Victoria Road; Quality Fish & Chips, High Street, Fordington; San Telmo, High Street, Fordington; Peter Pan, Trinity Street.

Portland: Cod Fathers, Weston Road; Daniels Fish & Chips, Fortuneswell; Rays Fish Shop, Straits.

Villages: Big Fish in Broadmayne.

 

• Melinda Fisher, Marine Awareness Officer at Dorset Wildlife Trust, writes:

Overfishing and unsustainable fishing methods are two big problems facing our seas.

The Dorset Wildlife Trust wants to see a return to healthy, productive seas which are teeming with marine wildlife but still be able to use the sea’s resources wisely.

As individuals this is one thing that we can all do something about – by thinking about the seafood we buy; where does it come from and does it use low impact fishing methods?

The Dorset Wildlife Trust Great Dorset Seafood campaign supports the local fishing industry by encouraging people to buy seafood caught from the Dorset coast.

Six fishermen have already pledged their support to the scheme as well as local fishmongers and fish merchants. Local small scale fisheries use capture methods such as pot, trap and hand lines which are less damaging to the marine environment.

Browse the Great Dorset Seafood campaign website for a list of local fishermen, food outlets, fishmongers and fish merchants who source some seafood from Dorset. The seafood directory shows suitable seafood to choose, seasonality and recipes.