National Fish and Chip Day 2021 in Leeds: Free chips for everyone at Portside takeaway as owner brothers celebrate lockdown success

Brothers Avy and Kully Roda opened Portside in Harrogate Road last year after seeing a Yorkshire Evening Post story about fish and chip shops that were up for sale across Leeds

They bought what was Atlantis fish and chip shop in July and opened their newly renovated premises for takeaway in October.

The pair kept their shop open six days a week throughout each lockdown and will now start opening on a Sunday to make it seven due to popular demand.

Co-owner Avy said that his customers are to thank for relieving what was a scary prospect of opening a new place during lockdown.

He told the YEP: "We weren't sure how it was going to go at first but we've been really busy ever since we opened.

"It seems like our local community has really taken to us, and I think it helps that we fry in vegetable oil as that ticks all the boxes.

"It's going really well for us and we're hitting all our targets, and we've got our customers to thank for that.

"They've supported us through a very rough year which was never going to be easy for small businesses."

Avy added that fish and chips were a clear big-hitter during lockdown, and that even with other venues having reopened now, that hasn't changed at all.

He said: "I think through lockdown people went back to what they would have had when they were kids and back to their traditions.

"Fish and chips is like comfort food and people associate it with spending time with family.

"Especially through lockdown, it would give people who were at home all day something to look forward to.

"Our Fridays go absolutely through the roof and I think it's because of tradition, I remember my granddad always bringing fish and chips home on a Friday."

The brothers are now planning on opening their second takeaway in Pontefract this August.

Avy added: "Fish and chips are a part of people's weeks - it's like a taste of home that brings back good memories, like the seaside for example.

"We put hard work and crazy hours in and it proves to really pay off.

"We're currently in what is one of our busiest weeks yet and we can't wait for that to continue especially with our National Fish and Chip Day celebrations - offering free chips to everyone."

Portside is offering a portion of chips for free to anyone who orders before 4pm today.