Gemma and Ste, owners of The Trawlerman Fish & Chip Shop in Wigan, have shared their heartbreak after a devastating fire tore through their business on Good Friday.
Located on Woodhouse Lane, the shop was packed with customers, with queues stretching out of the door, when the fire broke out at around 5:10pm. A burning smell was first noticed before flames were spotted beneath the range and the situation escalated rapidly.
Everyone inside was able to get out safely as staff quickly cleared the premises and called the fire brigade. However, in less than a minute, the shop became engulfed in thick smoke and flames.
Firefighters arrived quickly and worked to tackle the blaze, but for Gemma and Ste, watching it unfold felt like an eternity. They described standing in disbelief as the smoke and flames took over, with the sound of cracking and burning adding to the devastation.
The fire struck on what should have been their busiest day of the year, with extra stock prepared and weeks of hard work going into the day, all of which was lost in a matter of moments.
Gemma and Ste have also appealed to customers who had paid but were unable to receive their food, posting on social media: “We know there are a couple of customers who had just paid and were getting served but had to leave without their food, we have you on camera, please get in touch as we want to get your money back to you!”
Despite the devastation, the pair say they are incredibly grateful that no one was injured.
Their focus now is on rebuilding and reopening as quickly as possible, not only for themselves, but for their team who rely on the business, and for the community they serve. For many, they say, the chippy is more than just a place to eat, it’s a place to connect.
They also thanked their staff for their support on the night, as well as firefighters for their swift response, guidance and care during such a difficult situation.
They’ve promised to keep customers updated as they begin the journey to reopen, and hope the community will continue to support them when they return.
"We are just very very grateful that no one was hurt. We want to concentrate now on getting the Chippy back up and running. We know this will take time but we want to do it as quickly as possible, for many reasons, it’s our livelihood, our amazing team rely on their jobs and income, we are part of the community, for some it’s the only bit of socialising they have."
From a personal point of view, I’m gutted for Gemma and Ste, I’ve been to the Trawlerman a number of times, their snack barm with peawet is second to none, their customer service is just brilliant, and their videos always make me smile.
I don’t think they’ll have any worries about customers coming back, I just wish them well on rebuilding the business, and know The Trawlerman will be back bigger and better.
