Because of its impressive exterior, Banny’s in Colne, Lancashire, had its work cut out to convince potential customers that it wasn’t over priced. That was 18 months ago, when the 280 seat fish & chip restaurant at the end of the M65 opened its doors.They needn’t have worried. It didn’t take long before people realised that Banny’s was just what the doctor ordered, a welcoming place for the ‘meal out’ experience, with proper, old fashioned fish & chips like you’d get in your local chippy. A mouth-watering portion of haddock & chips is just £6.95, while scampi and plaice goujon dishes are £7.50. Other classics include jumbo sausage for £4.95 and meat pie of the week for £5.95, all served with freshly cooked chips or a green salad.
Being a sit down, licensed restaurant, there are also starters and desserts to choose from, including filo prawns or a brie & cranberry parcel for £3.95 and homemade sticky toffee pudding with custard, cream or ice-cream for £3.95. On-the-ball with modern British society’s demands, you can also get gluten free fish & chips, vegetarian gravy and curry, and Halal chicken for the increasing number of muslim customers tucking in at the restaurant.
Provenance is also important to Banny’s, sourcing its potatoes from local producer Richard Wellock & Sons, and fish from J Sykes & Sons in Manchester and F Smales & Sons in Hull.
Banny’s which was custom built in March 2008 adjacent to Boundary Mill, has a captive audience offering hungry shoppers a welcome spot of gastronomic respite after a day sifting through top designer brands at discount prices.
The restaurant also attracts coach parties and has become a real part of the Lancashire experience. Up to 10 coach parties a week now come through the doors before embarking on the Pendle Witches Tour, visiting the 900-year-old Skipton Castle or taking a Grand Union Canal boat ride.
According to the team at Banny’s, the reason they are doing so well as an independent operator is because they have got the formula right and understand their customer base. “Consumers want the whole restaurant experience, but they also want to know they are going to get proper, traditional fish & chips, of a high standard and cooked to order.
“At first, some people thought Banny’s was going to be an overpriced restaurant with over inflated prices, but they now realise we offer great value meals, serving proper portions of fish & chips for under £7, when they might pay £12 at a traditional restaurant.
“In the week we offer promotions to coach parties, a 3 course meal for £6.
Beyond this, we offer a loyalty card that means, after four visits, the main
course is free, and we cater for kids with a ‘two course with a drink’ children’s menu for £4.95.”
For more on Banny’s, which employs around 60 staff and is open seven days a week from 12noon to 9pm, call 01282 856220 or visit www.bannys.co.uk