Mixing half a century’s experience with some modern thinking has proved to be the recipe for success for one York chippie.
Millers Fish & Chips has been serving up tasty suppers for 51 years from The Village, Haxby.
And it has just been named one of the finalists in the National Fish And Chip Awards 2017.
“It’s absolutely amazing,” said Nick Miller, 27, the fourth generation to work in the business.
“It’s a really big deal for us because we’ve worked so hard to become better. We’ve always been good, and had a good reputation. Now we have taken it up to the next level.”
The business has recently undergone a complete refurbishment. Now the restaurant is fully licensed, has table service and free wi-fi.
It runs a popular bistro night on Thursday, with special fish dishes cooked by their chef including pan-fried trio of fish, and prawn and courgette linguini.
Millers is one of four Yorkshire fish and chips shops to be shortlisted in the awards, and will complete for the North East title to be in with a chance of national glory.
Gluten free
Another of the innovations that has also proved popular is gluten-free fish and chips.
This has seen people who have coeliac disease or suffer from certain food intolerances travel to Millers from across York and beyond.
“We have customers coming in for the gluten-free option every night,” said Nick.
“We had a little girl in who’d never had fish and chips in her life. It’s so rewarding to hear the family say she was over the moon.
“Another lady hadn’t had fish and chips for 20 years before she came in and had some of ours.”
So what’s the secret to the best fish and chips? Choosing the ingredients carefully, says Nick, getting the frying temperature right – and ensuring the batter is consistently excellent.
“It’s a very hard job,” he said. “When I first came into the business properly, I didn’t realise how much there is to do.”
Good service is important too.
“There’s a happy atmosphere here. Everyone likes coming in. Everyone in the team has worked so hard to help us get this far.”
Long history
The business has been in the family for years. It was Nick’s great grandfather Joe who began things.
His son Jim opened four fish and chip shops around York, including the one in Haxby in 1965.
Nick’s father David trained in a Michelin starred restaurant. He was a chef on luxury liner the QEII before joining the family business about 30 years ago.
And now with Nick involved, and the award nomination, the future looks bright for Millers.