A Birmingham fish and chip shop is delighting customers with an unusual festive menu that includes deep-fried mince pies, battered pigs in blankets and a special Christmas dinner loaded with chips.
Festive favourites get a crispy coating
Hawthorn Fish Bar in Kingstanding has launched a range of seasonal treats in the run-up to Christmas. The innovative offerings include battered mince pies for £1.50 each, three battered pickled onions for £1.99, and five battered pigs in blankets for £4.49.
The shop's signature creation, however, is its 'Festive Chips'. This dish consists of chips loaded with chicken kebab meat, stuffing fritters, pigs in blankets and gravy, all for £5.99. Owner Palvinder Singh, 62, says this item is the most popular, with the shop selling between 50 and 100 portions every week.
A recipe for success amid challenges
Mr Singh, who has owned the shop since 1982, explained that the unique menu was developed in response to customer demand. "Every year we try and come up with something a bit different and we always ask our customers what they would like to see," he said.
The team spent October and November perfecting the recipes, particularly ensuring the festive chips would travel well for takeaways without becoming soggy. "I think we've got it right now and they are proving very popular," Mr Singh added.
The move comes after what he described as an "up and down year" facing staff shortages, rising stock costs and a lack of government support for local businesses. "So you have to constantly come up with new ideas," he stated, expressing a desire to prove that the local chippy can be a central part of the festive season for busy families.
Giving back to the community
Palvinder Singh runs the award-winning shop with his son Amrit Singh, 34, and daughter-in-law Sandy Kaur, 31. The family is keen to give back to their loyal customers this Christmas.
Last week, they gave away free cones of chips to anyone wearing a Christmas jumper. They are also now offering festive drinks like mulled wine and beer to take away, as well as half-price kebabs on Christmas Eve.
"We've continued to grow and we are grateful to our loyal customers so this Christmas we wanted to give a little something back," said Sandy Kaur. "It's our way of saying thank you."
The shop's efforts to innovate have not gone unnoticed. Hawthorn Fish Bar was named in the top 40 list of best takeaways in The National Fish and Chip Awards this year, cementing its reputation for quality and creativity in Birmingham.
