A 'reel' catch has landed in the heart of Durham

A local, historic city has recently welcomed a new business to its streets: Freddie’s Fish & Chip Shop.

Following on from the success of the first Freddie’s, which opened in nearby Stanhope in September 2017, founder Jolyon Fenwick felt that the county’s capital city, Durham, was the natural choice for his next shop.

Freddie’s opened in early April and is said to have become a fast favourite with locals and visitors.

Freddie’s is supposedly ‘unique’ in a number of ways; homemade beer batter is used - which is unheard of outside of restaurants and gastro pubs - and sides are freshly made from scratch each day, using ingredients such as mint from a local greengrocer.

Jolyon said: “It occurred to me that the great majority of young men killed on The Somme came from four places: London, Northern Ireland, Scotland and the North East – places, as it happens, that were the ‘cradle’ of the British institution of fish and chips.

“It set me thinking that it was therefore more than likely that local, newspaper-wrapped fried fish and chipped potatoes were one of the last home comforts these men enjoyed before their departure for France.

“In homage to this, Freddie’s is named after a Private soldier from the North East who was killed on the Somme. His full identity will remain unknown.”

Jolyon, who has published three books covering different tales from the war, added: “I opened Freddie’s because writing history books sadly won’t continue to maintain the roof on my rapidly dilapidating old house. And I’ve always loved fish and chips. I wanted to try and do them as well as I think they can be done.”

Freddie’s uses recyclable paper and paperboard packaging for its fish and chips, and sustainable fish - something else Jolyon is passionate about.

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