Buckets and spades & seagulls…award-winning designer Phil Watts is to bring seaside memories to Chellaston – as he completes work on a £200,000 transformation of a former takeaway.
Phil and his team of designers have been creating the latest venture from Derby-based George’s – designing a contemporary-style fish and chip shop in Swarkestone Road with a real taste of the seaside.
Phil, based in the East Midlands, has recently won a prestigious award for work done with George’s after he designed the growing company’s first ever fish and chip kitchen in Nottingham last year. Phil and his design team took a top accolade at the national Restaurant and Bar Design Awards for the way they transformed a heritage building into a stunning new restaurant and bar.
And now Phil has brought his award-winning designs to Chellaston. George’s Chellaston will open its doors mid November following an impressive refit which will include plenty of seaside character added by the bucket load.
Phil said: “We created a traditional style at George’s Fish and Chip Kitchen in Nottingham which was really successful and it was our job to ensure we could take the same design and much-loved character into the company’s future fish and chip shops and restaurants.
“The building in Chellaston was formerly a fish bar, but when we arrived the premises were completely gutted, so we had a total empty canvas to work from.”
Phil and his team thought up clever ways of evoking happy memories of British seaside holidays – and added them to the interior.
“We have included seaside memories such as, wooden benches and old-fashioned street signs,” said Phil.
“By using timber panelling and using seaside graphics, we could create happy times by the coast and of course eating delicious fish and chips.
“We are all delighted with the look and I truly believe that the design of the restaurant will set a huge bar for other competitors to follow. I’m sure the staff and customers will really embrace it and other businesses will be inspired by it and take on board how important the design thinking is.”
It’s the first of its kind to showcase the brand’s new interior design and menu of a 21st century fish and chip shop designed to appeal to the modern professional, families and local residents.
George’s will be closing its current venue in Royal Glen Park and will open its new fish and chip shop in mid November.
George’s MD Andrew Constantinou says the brand continues to go from strength to strength, and he has ambitious plans to open more restaurants and fish and chip shops country-wide over the next five years. In addition, the brand has also joined the famous UK discount website-Nexus to provide users with the latest discounts every month.
Andrew said: “We are extremely excited about the launch of our new shop in Chellaston. It is hard to describe the feel and atmosphere of the new venue without visiting it – because it’s so different from your usual fish and chip shop.
“Our menu will appeal to all ages, with new dishes such as a cod burger, pulled pork wrap and chicken wings to choose from as well as traditional fish and chip dishes.”
Andrew added: “The new shop is still a takeaway, however there are tables available to enjoy a meal at – there won’t be table service and people can’t make reservations – but it will have more of a restaurant feel due to the interior design because of our attention to detail on all the fixtures and fittings.”
The takeaway will also be one of the first fish and chip shops in Derby to offer alcohol, in the form of locally sourced bottled beer.
