All change Popular fish and chip shop returns to its roots
AFISH and chip shop in north Bristol will have its original name restored today. sign has been prepared for the ‘Jolly Fryer’ to replace ‘Ocean Catch’ on Filton Avenue.
Its owner, Nick Lomvardos, started working in the shop when he was 18 years old, alongside his brother, after their parents bought an empty unit on the road back in 1986.
They worked as a family for 24 years before his father retired.
The 55-year-old said: “In 2010, I left The Jolly Fryer and purchased my own shop. At the time I wanted to do something for myself, I didn’t want to be someone who worked for their parents their whole life.”
Nick launched the Bishopston Fish Bar on Gloucester Road, which he still runs. When his father, and proprietor of the Jolly Fryer, died five years ago, his brothers continued the business for a year before they called it a day in 2018.
Nick said: “I couldn’t bear the thought of [it closing], out of respect for my dad in all of the years we spent together. I know my parents sweated really hard for that shop. They worked ever so hard – my dad was working from seven in the morning until midnight, six days a week. I took over the shop, but at the time I took over we always said my dad was the Jolly Fryer because he always worked with a smile on his face.
“He was always so pleased to be working in his shop. I thought maybe it’s not the Jolly Fryer anymore because he’s gone, so I changed it.”
Nick bought the shop in 2018 and renamed it Ocean Catch, but the regulars continued to call it the Jolly Fryer.
At the time the pandemic struck Nick left the UK for Greece to be with his fiancee, who had been diagnosed with cancer.
“I had a choice of ringing up and closing the shop to stay in Greece or leaving her and coming back to work. There was no way I was going to leave her,” he said.
The shop was looked after in his absence by a manager and his team.
He was in Greece for 14 months as his fiancee made a full recovery. They returned to the UK in August 2021 and many customers who had not realised it was still in the Lomvardos family asked why the name had changed.
“I was told ‘you’re the Jolly Fryer, you’re the man who has a smile on your face constantly,’” he said, feeling emotional. “This young lady came in to say she remembered coming in as a little girl and said she always received a lollipop, which we still do. She said it will always be the Jolly Fryer.
“I’ve been telling customers and everyone is so pleased.”
When the new sign is erected today Nick will be handing out free portions of chips with each order to celebrate.
The Jolly Fryer is at 557a Filton Ave, Bristol, BS7 0QH.