Harbour View Fish and Chip Restaurant in Seaton Sluice has been awarded another prestigious accolade for its delicious food and good customer service.
As well as being one of the top five rated fish and chip shops in the UK as deemed by Trip Advisor, they have now been awarded their “Travellers Choice” status which is only given to around 10 percent of businesses world-wide. We asked manager Waseem Mir about his business and why Harbour View has such a good reputation for quality food.
How did you get into the fish and chip business?
Family. It’s a family business which my Uncle Lak Gill and I own, his experience and love and passion for providing excellent food is how I got involved with The Harbour View.
What makes your fish different to other fish and chip shops?
We only use the finest cod and haddock from the deep and cold waters of the North Atlantic where it is caught just off Iceland. We also insist on freshness and size also matters to us. (The secret family batter also helps, but don’t tell anyone it’s a secret).
So, does your batter really have a secret ingredient?
It’s one of those secrets where if I told you I’d have to fry you.
Your large Cod has a nickname, hasn’t it?
Yes, our regulars call it the whale as it literally fills the plate and more. Newcomers to the restaurant and takeaway ask for a large cod and our other customers tell them to get a regular sized cod, but they never listen. They are amazed when they get the fish and rarely finish it as they are so big. We do supply boxes so that can enjoy the fish the next day too.
Tell us about your outstanding record for good customer service.
The customer is what keeps us in business, and we value the fact that they choose us rather than our competitors. We believe in being polite and talking to all our customers and over the years we have got to know everyone who comes in to eat with us. Our staff are all very customer focused, and nothing should be too much trouble to enhance the customer experience.
Are all your customers local?
No not at all. We have people who make special holiday visits from all over the UK just to enjoy our food and we’ve even had one couple take a takeaway meal to their parents in Greece so that they could enjoy the food they missed most living abroad. Our fame even attracted a TV film crew from Australia who were doing a travel documentary about Northumberland and featured our famous fish and chips on the National Geographic Channel. Other than those examples we have regulars who literally travel 20+ miles every single week to eat with us.
You have a reputation for being very community focused.
Yes, I believe it is very important to look after the people around you. We support MacMillan Cancer and have regular collections where we and our generous customers have raised around £10,000 to help those with this dreadful disease. We also have charity nights with the Maritime Volunteer Service where they enjoy fish and chips and raise money for their work.
I was very concerned during COVID when I saw that my neighbouring businesses in the hospitality trade couldn’t open. When they were able to open again I made a decision to stop selling alcohol and asked my customers to use their premises to buy their drinks to help spread the business around.
Do you ever get any famous customers?
We do indeed. We have had Ant McPartlin in our takeaway, Hairy Biker Si King, local pop superstar Sam Fender, Musician Ray Laidlaw and actress and presenter Kim Tserkezie is also a regular.
What’s the best thing about being the manager of Harbour View?
There are so many I don’t think I could list them all and leave enough space for the rest of the magazine!!!!!
I have to say it has to be my amazing staff and the fantastic customers we have coming through our doors. It truly is a pleasure to see everyone so happy and upbeat and excited to come into work and to eat here. It makes the job and hard work all worthwhile.
Harbour View Fish and Chip Restaurant is located in Seaton Sluice