New fish and chips restaurant to secure future of Cleethorpes Pier

This story is over

Papas Fish and Chips has secured the future of Cleethorpes Pier, creating 100 new jobs.

The restaurant and takeaway chain will open its fourth site, seating up to 500 people, in the first week of March 2017, following a conversion of the property into the company brand in February.

Confirmed as the Pier of the Year 2016, the site was put up for sale in September by its former owner Bryan Huxford after a £4.7 million renovation.

The Papas family, who now own the pier have, have already established three other large restaurants, seating upwards of 380 people, including two in Hull and one in Scarborough.

Paps Fish and Chips, Hull

Paps Fish and Chips, Hull

Dino Papas, Partner in the business said: “Cleethorpes Pier was going to be closed down and left derelict and we didn’t want to see it go into disrepair.

“It was a good business opportunity for us and we think we can make it work. We think with the right offers, we will be able to secure the longevity of the pier.

“There will be a heavy investment from us to make sure it works as what we are going to be opening it as. We will need to add a takeaway to it and also our put our stamp on it.”

The Papas family will also be looking to support local traders in the area.

“Surprisingly, most fish and chips shops in Cleethorpes don’t buy their fish in Grimsby but we will be using Grimsby-based traders, the same as our other restaurants.”

The pier was first opened in 1873, costing £8,000 to build but after additions, demolitions and fire damage, the property was sold to Cleethorpes Council in 1936.

Since then the pier has changed hands several times over the course of the years.