Tees Business Tees Business issue 17 | Page 84

84 | Tees Business Rooting for Redcar – Michael Roberts, who runs Oliver’s Fish and Chips with his wife Helen. The restaurant and takeaway has become the 150th Redcar / Cleveland Ambassador. REDCAR ROCKS Oliver’s Fish and Chips becomes 150th borough Ambassador F ish ‘n’ chips. They go together with Redcar in the same way rock goes with Blackpool, cream goes with Devon and tea goes with China. And the seaside town’s fond association with our national dish has been given a further boost with Oliver’s becoming the 150th Redcar / Cleveland Ambassador. The award-winning fish ‘n’ chips restaurant and takeaway has become the milestone member of a group of businesses and individuals committed to furthering Redcar and Cleveland as a great place to live, enjoy and do business. Oliver’s is rated the best fish ‘n’ chips takeaway and restaurant in Redcar by reviews on the online review website, Trip Advisor. It was also the first fish ‘n’ chips takeaway on Teesside to achieve certification from the Marine Stewardship Council, the strongest independent guarantee that fish is from healthy stocks and caught with minimal damage to the marine environment. Owned by husband and wife team Michael and Helen Roberts, the thriving business is named after their son Oliver. Now they have strengthened the bond with their hometown by joining the Redcar | Cleveland Ambassadors programme. The programme is a network of companies, organisations and groups committed to helping the borough develop its economy, increase employment and create the greater demand for housing, restaurants and leisure activities that disposable income generates. The Ambassadors act as a sales force in ‘talking up’ the borough and encouraging inward-investment to create demand for new housing and generate increased retail spend. Michael said that, as a proud Redcar business, joining the Ambassor scheme was an easy decision. “We want to promote the area,” he said. “Everyone has to play their part and pull the same way. We can’t wait for anyone else to solve our problems for us. “We’re so chuffed to be the 150th Ambassador. We’re passionate about Redcar and have been cooking in the area for more than 22 years.” Oliver’s has been running since 2011, initially operating a takeaway and restaurant from the same unit. In 2015, in a great display of confidence in their business and the trading conditions in Redcar, the couple invested £150,000 when Take the Oliver’s Challenge We’re confident you’ll agree our combination of fresh fish and succulent batter ensures we serve the best fish ‘n’ chips on Teesside! they expanded their business by taking on a second unit to act as the takeaway, and converted their initial base to a permanent restaurant. Helen commented: “It’s not just us. You can see more businesses spending money and making things look better. You try to calculate as best you can and spend what’s right for your business.” Frans Calje, chief executive of PD Ports and chair of the Redcar | Cleveland Ambassadors, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Oliver’s as the 150th Ambassador. “It’s great to hit this milestone, particularly with a business that is so synonymous with Redcar: fish and chips are a big part of our identity.” Featuring a 63-seater restaurant and adjoining takeaway on Bath Street – close to the seafront fountains – Oliver’s employs 21 full and part-time staff. They have revealed that they serve up 44,000 servings of chips per year, equating to more than 1.7 million chips! The Redcar | Cleveland Ambassadors are always looking to recruit more people and businesses to promote the borough. To find out more, visit: www. redcarcleveland.co.uk/ambassador Also serving pies, burgers, paninis and sandwiches. We’re proud to now cater for vegetarians and pescatarians. Bath Street, Redcar TS10 3AF | Restaurant: 01642 477520 | Takeaway: 01642 494399 | W: www.oliversfishnchips.co.uk