Unopposed fish & chip shop, Masham market square

Key features

• £3,000 weekly turnover from only 11 hours frying
• Previously took £8,000 a week on full-time openings
• Unopposed position on Masham market square
• 3-pan Hopkins counter range, high efficiency
• 25–30 cover restaurant alongside the takeaway

About this business

A traditional fish & chip shop in a prime, unopposed position on the market square of Masham, one of the Yorkshire Dales' most popular tourist towns. Currently turning over around £3,000 a week from just 11 hours of frying — two half days and one full day — because health issues have forced the vendor to scale right back. Previously took £8,000 a week on normal openings. For a capable operator willing to reopen properly and add delivery, the route back to that figure is obvious.

Trading figures

Weekly turnover currently sits at around £3,000, achieved from just 11 hours of frying a week — two half days and one full day — on a simple conventional menu. Prior to the reduction in hours, takings were in the region of £8,000 a week. An experienced operator returning the shop to normal openings, broadening the menu and introducing the home delivery service the town currently lacks should be able to re-establish that figure and push beyond it. The scope here is unusually direct: the trade was already there, and the position hasn't changed.

Trading hours

Closed Sunday through to Wednesday. Thursday: 4.30pm – 7.30pm. Friday: 11.45am – 1.30pm and 4.30pm – 7.30pm. Saturday: 4.30pm – 7.30pm. The current pattern reflects the vendor's health rather than any limit on demand — there is unbelievable scope to operate normal hours.

Business premises

A traditional stone-built ground floor premises with a single frontage opening into a well-appointed interior. Tiled flooring runs throughout, lit by strip lighting, with a 3-pan Hopkins counter range as the centrepiece of the frying operation. The restaurant area — currently only open for two hours on a Friday — is genuinely attractive and well laid out, seating 25 to 30 covers around free-standing tables and chairs, anchored by a stone fireplace with a multifuel stove. To the rear, the preparation area has uPVC-clad walls and houses a commercial washing-up station, potato works, stock room and access to external storage sheds.

Trade equipment

The headline item is the 3-pan Hopkins high-efficiency counter range — landlord's ownership, but in place and trading. Included within the asking price: a Bold rumbler and chipper, 4-pot bain-marie, electric till, fish keeper, water boiler, microwave oven, drink chiller, Hobart dishwasher, chest freezer, various fridges, plus the restaurant tables and chairs, crockery and cutlery.

Trading position

A prime, unopposed pitch in one of the Dales' most popular market towns, directly opposite the main square where the markets are held and the visitor car park sits — a footfall draw throughout the year. Behind the tourist trade is a solid local population, with a new housing development close by adding to the resident catchment. Visitors and residents in the same spot, with no competing chippy on the square.

Special remarks

A genuinely under-achieving concern, and a rare one — the trade was demonstrably there at £8,000 a week before the vendor's health forced a cutback to two half days and one full day. The pitch is unopposed, the fit-out and equipment are in place, and the restaurant element gives a capable operator a second income channel alongside the counter trade. The asking price has been reduced to encourage a quick sale due to family circumstances. Inspection will make the upside obvious.