Harry Ramsden's to invest £2m in seaside restaurants

Fish and chip restaurant chain Harry Ramsden's is investing nearly £2m to upgrade three of its seaside restaurants.

Refurbishment works are under way at sites in Blackpool, Eastbourne and Great Yarmouth. The aim is to bring the properties in line with the £1m award-winning new look unveiled last year in Bournemouth, which saw capacity increase from 235 to 417 seats and sales increase by 45% year-on-year.

The Great Yarmouth restaurant has just been completed with the new look restaurant and takeaway now open. Work has already started at Blackpool and the takeaway section will reopen in two weeks, while refurbishment will start on the Eastbourne site in early June. Both are expected to be open in time for the summer season.

The contemporary new look reflects the brand's maritime heritage, incorporating a green and blue colour scheme, as well as black-and-white-checked flooring, porthole mirrors, and vintage black and white prints of fishermen landing their catch.

Joe Teixeira, chief executive of the 85-year-old company, said the investment was part of a drive to establish the brand more firmly in local communities.

"This is the latest stage in the ongoing evolution of Harry Ramsden's," he added. "As we continue to develop the brand, we look forward to unveiling the new face of Harry Ramsden's to both existing and a new generation of customers and attracting our share of the millions of day trippers and tourists who visit these great seaside towns each summer."