Opening Day
The refurbished shop opened on April 3 1989. The Capels' formula of offering great food with friendly service in pleasant surroundings proved an overnight success. Many fish and chip shops already offered good food, but none did so with quite the panache and emphasis on quality that Fred brought from his early years as a professional chef at some of London's finest establishments. This winning combination has remained the cornerstone of Chez Fred's success ever since.

Fish & Chip Shop of the Year Competition - 1990
Still in their first year of trading, Chez Fred scooped the coveted "Best Fish and Chip Shop in the South West / Southern England" title, as well as being runners-up in the "Best in Britain" award in the Seafish Industry Authority's prestigious competition.

Fish & Chip Shop of the Year Competition - 1991
A year later, Chez Fred were crowned, and retired from the competition, as Best Fish and Chip Shop in Great Britain. Continuous improvement has been the main objective ever since - and the business can now accordingly claim to be better in many respects than when it won the UK title.

Continuous Improvement
Equipment and premises have seen ongoing improvement since those early days. In 1999, the Capels bought the adjoining shop and extended the restaurant, increasing the number of seats by a queue-busting 60%, and creating a more spacious and welcoming environment. Opening in May '99, the extension proved an instant success, with the return of many customers who had previously been put off by having to queue for up to an hour for a table! On the busiest days, there can still be a queue - now, however, it moves far more quickly, with waiting times averaging just 5 to 10 minutes. The larger premises also mean that Chez Fred can now accommodate large parties comfortably - an all-but impossible feat in previous years!