Familiar faces behind the counter

Steve and Diane Pratt, owners of Ocean Fisheries and Takeaways. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO

Diane and Steve Pratt are no strangers to the fish and chip business.

In fact it's something they've been doing for the last 30 years.

Now they've made another move, taking over the former Ocean Fisheries outlet at 402 Victoria Ave (next to Pizza Hut) and trading under the name Ocean Fisheries and Takeaways.

They took over the business on June 1 and expanded the original operation by adding fish and chip meals.

"Gary Williams owned the business but when his lease on these premises expired we had a window because our lease on our shop in Ingestre St had also expired," Mr Pratt said.

"Twelve months ago we couldn't have made this move because we were still tied to that lease. But now we're here we decided to add the takeaways side of things to the business."

Adding takeaways doesn't mean the fresh fish side of the business has been sacrificed. In fact the Pratts have started expanding their range in that area already.

"It's already well set up. All we've done is added the cookers for the takeaways," he said.

The shop also stocks Pokeno bacon and is believed to be the only stockist in the city. And their fresh mussels are sourced from Marlborough when most of the Whanganui outlets get theirs from the Coromandel.

The Pratts have increased the range of frozen stock, making up their own mussel and paua fritters. And they've installed a new smoker so they'll be smoking fish including salmon, mussels and oysters among other varieties. Also aboard is a new ice maker. They will use some of that in store but have it available for sale as well.

Ocean Fisheries and Takeaways will be open Tuesday to Saturdays from 8.30am until about 8pm, but a little later on busier Friday nights.

"In the summer it might be a little later than that. But the takeaways will be available from 11.30 to 1.30 and again from 4.30 until we close," Mrs Pratt said.

This will be the eighth fish and chip shop the couple have operated. The latest was in Ingestre St where they spiced up the menu with chicken dishes. They've also had takeaway shops in Aramoho, Carlton Ave, Springvale Rd, Victoria Ave, in Bulls then Ingestre St before this latest venture.