'Come and try us – you won't be disappointed': Meet the new owner of a former iconic Northampton fish and chip shop

The new manager of one of the former Albert J Ramsbottom fish and chip shops says she hopes customers will give the business a try after taking over the historic Abington Street site.

Salt and Vinegar opened on June 1, replacing Albert J Ramsbottom, which had traded from the same premises since 1982.

Manager Jenny Feyes, 31, and her partner became the fourth owners of the shop exactly 44 years after it first opened.

Speaking to the Chronicle & Echo, Jenny said taking on the business was an opportunity she couldn't turn down.

She said: "I've been doing fish and chips for 10 years now. We'd been looking for a fish and chip shop for about a year and then we saw this location. It had been closed and we saw a big opportunity here.

"I used to own another fish and chip shop in Stratford-upon-Avon, so I know what I'm doing. I wouldn't take over such a big business like this if I didn't.”

She continued: “I used to live in Daventry, so I came to Northampton a lot about 10 years ago. I always liked this shop. It's a really cute little shop with lots of seating and a proper restaurant as well, so I thought, 'This is it.'"

Talking shop, Jenny said she doesn’t cut on quality. She said: “My fish is delivered fresh every day from Grimsby. It's Icelandic cod and Scottish haddock. I never use frozen fish. I've never used frozen fish in my life.

"My standards are a bit higher than usual, but I don't think that's a bad thing. Lots of customers have already said, 'Wow, your fish is snow white inside.' You can tell the difference between frozen fish and fresh fish straight away.

"I wouldn't change back to frozen, even if it saved me £50 or £100 a week."

She added: “People complain about the prices (£12.95 for a fish and chip meal). But if people sit in the restaurant, we need extra staff to serve them, clear the tables and wash the plates. That's very different to just putting food in a takeaway box.

"You don't pay for bad food – you pay for quality food. The previous owner charged similar prices and I haven't increased them, even though I'm using fresh fish."

The shop now opens seven days a week and Jenny hopes to expand the menu in the coming months.

"We're open Monday to Sunday now," she said. "People just need to know we're here because we're still very new.

"We're looking at doing kebabs and maybe rotisserie chicken as well. Fish and chips is great, but some people want something different, so we want to give them more choice."

Asked about the town centre, Jenny said she hopes the area can improve.

"It's changed over the last 10 years - not in a good way," she said. "We've had some problems with homeless people outside the shop, but I suppose that's every town centre these days.

"Hopefully, over time, we can help bring this part of town back."

She added: "Our secret is simple - always give good service and always keep the quality high.

"I'd just say to the people of Northampton: come and try us. You won't be disappointed."