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A few years ago, I bought a business that holds a very special place in my heart: The Mermaid, Leeds' iconic fish and chip shop.
As a child, my parents would drive us 10 miles�past countless other takeaways�just to get to The Mermaid. It wasn�t just about the food (which was always incredible), but about the memories we made there as a family. When I had children of my own, I carried on the tradition�taking them to The Mermaid and creating those same special moments. For over 50 years, it�s been part of our family story.
After the pandemic, The Mermaid was struggling financially. Stepping in to buy it wasn�t really a commercial decision�it was a sentimental one. I did it out of love�for what it represented to me, to my family, and to the local community.
But running a business like this takes time, focus, and daily dedication. With other commitments in my life, I�ve come to realise that I can�t give it everything it needs to grow. I�d hoped a family member might carry the torch, but that didn�t work out. And so, with mixed emotions, I�ve made the decision to sell.
The good news is that The Mermaid�s future looks bright. The new owner is a seasoned operator with deep experience in both fast food and fish and chips. I�m genuinely excited that The Mermaid is now in the hands of someone who can invest in it and take it forward.
I�m proud to have played a small part in saving The Mermaid during a critical time. As I often say, sometimes the most responsible thing you can do is step back�and recognise when someone else is better placed to take something forward. That�s exactly what I�m doing here.
The Mermaid lives on, and I�ll always be one of its biggest fans.
