Family firm bids to open chip shop in city centre

A FAMILY firm of fish and chip restaurants that has gained popularity with celebrities in Scotland is planning to convert a shop in Newcastle city centre into its first shop in England.

- COREENA FORD

> Glasgow's Blue Lagoon chip shop brand could be coming to Newcastle city centre

Blue Lagoon already has a string of sit-in eateries across Scotland, and its shops have welcomed everyone from Scotland football players to celebrity chef Nigella Lawson, singer Lewis Capaldi and superstar performer Justin Bieber, who visited its Glasgow store to tuck into deep-fried haggis and Irn Bru after a gig.

Now the company has its eye on a prime site close to the Bigg Market, which it plans to transform it into a restaurant for 56 diners, alongside an adjoining takeaway.

The proposal also reveals that the lease will soon be up at the firm currently trading from the site it plans to take over.

The company plans to take over 77 Grainger Street, currently operated by Dicksons, and part of 4 Newgate Street - specifically unused floor-space in the former Berketex Brides store, a portion of which is where Chilliflames Afro-Portugese restaurant trades.