A BELOVED seaside fish and chip shop has announced a shock closure after 30 years in business.
The Essex-based family-run chippy said they are “sad” and “shocked” at their decision to close.
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Martella’s in Chelmer Village will be replaced by “The CodFather” on March 6.
A representative took to Facebook to explain that after 30 years of running the place with their family, it’s time to pass on the baton.
They said: “After nearly 30 years of running Martellas of Chelmer Village with my family we have decided to call time on trading.
“We have made amazing friends in that time and have always felt that we were accepted by you all with open arms.
“Yes it’s sad and we are all shocked that we have taken this decision but with us all getting older we decided to look for a new family to run an amazing business for you all to share and enjoy.
“We found this in the form of Cem and his extended family and they will be taking over from March 6, and you will all soon notice that the name “Martellas” will disappear from the village, to be replaced by the equally prestigious business name “The CodFather”.
“Cem and his family already run some exquisite restaurants and take aways all over Essex and we feel that we are leaving you in brilliant hands.
“The staff will mostly be staying to make the exchange and transition as smooth as possible but I am aware that Cem has some exciting additions for both the shop and its menu to come.”
Flocks of disappointed fans have taken to Facebook to comment.
One person said: “The best fish & chip shop. Lovely staff too.”
Followed by a second: “Brilliant neighbours! We are going to miss them.”
Then a third said: “Always had good fish and chips there.”
It comes after another fish and chip shut down on March 2 after a decade in service.
The Hip Hop Chip Shop, once rated the second best in the whole UK, cited financial pressures – and said it was joining a “chorus” of defunct businesses in Manchester.
The chippy first opened in 2014 as a street food stall, before moving to a bricks-and-mortar site in Ancoats.
It quickly became one of the best reviewed in the city – and was even praised by American TV host Adam Richman last year, who visited during the filming of the Adam Richman Eats Britain show.
But bosses – including Jonathan ‘Ozzie’ Oswald, Luke Stocks, and Holly Oswald – have now confirmed they’ll be shutting up shop on March 2.
Taking to Instagram, Ozzie wrote: “After 11 years, we’re unfortunately joining the chorus of independent businesses in Manchester and beyond, calling it a day.
“Although Ancoats was an amazing area for us to embark on our bricks & mortar dream, the cost increases from Brexit, Covid, Energy, VAT (halving it would save a lot in the industry), BB Loans etc has meant it’s unviable in its current form – we would’ve had to increase prices much more than we’d be comfortable with to get the margins we need to keep going.
“It’s an extremely tough decision given it’s 15 years since the idea was born in my early 20s – then 3 mates whilst working other jobs began building it from scratch every weekend, to then quitting our jobs and taking a leap of full-time faith. Ultimately, we need to listen to the head, not the heart.
“We wanted to give enough notice to support our amazing team in finding new jobs, making sure all our suppliers are paid up and provide our supportive customers with the last chance to eat/drink/party with us.”
They added: “It’s been a privilege to be able to feed you all whether it’s been at a music festival, kitchen takeover, wedding, corporate party and also put on some top events in a chippy! HUGE thanks for your support!”
This comes after another chippy closed in January.
V.C Jones in Whitstable opened its doors in 1962 and customers say it served “the best fish and chips in the world”.
The Jones family has run the fish and chip shop for almost 62 years, but has decided to wrap up the business to “focus on what’s really important in life”.
A statement on their website reads: “We have spent this Christmas and New Year enjoying some rare and precious time together as a family.
“This time has enabled us to appreciate each other and to focus on what’s really important in life.
“As we enter our 62nd year of trading as a family, we have all decided that this is the perfect time to retire.
“This decision has surprised us probably as much as it has surprised you!”
The post went on to say that the doors would not be reopening and thanked the generations of customers for their support.
