Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I can’t get batter than my chippy’s customers
Ian grateful for volunteers
I will never forget the people here who have helped me out IAN HOUGHTON EAST BELFAST, YESTERDAY
A COMMUNITY went above and beyond in order to make sure a popular business was able to stay open during the pandemic.
Ian Houghton, the owner of the Manta Ray fish and chip shop just off Cregagh Road in East Belfast, said local residents volunteered at his chippy.
He added: “When lockdown started I was hit particularly badly and was forced to close a couple of other businesses that I was running and I was worried about the chip shop itself. I was unable to keep my staff on and really didn’t know how I was going to keep the place open.
“But the community rallied around me and didn’t want to see us close, so eight people volunteered their time to help me out and keep us open.
“I will never forget the kindness here or the people who have helped me out.”
Born and raised in the Cregagh area, Ian lost his left arm when he was four as a result of a traffic accident which he says had made things difficult for him in his early years leaving school without
any qualifications. However, a love for dogs saw him join the NI Staffordshire Bull Terriers Club which soon led him to a chance encounter with Jack Graham, the late owner of the Hungry Hound on the Ormeau Road who would become close friend and mentor to Ian.
He said: “I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with myself but I had a big passion for looking after my dogs and training
STARTING OUT Ian’s first chip van
them. When I joined the NI Staffordshire Bull Terriers Club I met Jack and he gave me a chance at his business to see what I could do.”
The 39-year-old started in 2004 and four years later he was opening a premises of his own which he named Manta Ray after an experience swimming with them on his honeymoon.
Ian said: “Things have just gone from strength to strength and the whole community have welcomed us from
day one.”