Squires - Braunton

Originally opened in 1969 as a village Fish & Chip shop by Julie & Gordon Squire, three major expansions have taken place since then and Squires of Braunton is now one of Devon's premier restaurant and takeaways with seating for up to 120 people, it is acclaimed throughout the South West for its legendary fish & chips - even the prime minister has eaten there.!!

Mike Squire, who now owns and runs the premises, is keen to keep Squires at the top and knows he cannot rest on his laurels - his reputation is based on the high standards he sets himself and his staff and perhaps most importantly the quality of the food he produces.

Mike says, 'I have always been impressed with the Florigo brand, my last range was a Florigo too and whilst it was still giving me excellent service it could no longer keep up with demand - I knew I needed a new range and I also knew which range I was going to have - I have always appreciated the build quality and Florigo have always had the latest technology - they also provide exactly what I want & need from a range and the after sales service is second to none'.

Mike Squire has 55 staff working on the premises and has realised that to be the best he has to have well trained efficient staff, working in a clean safe and modern environment - his shop is open all year round and caters for locals and tourists alike - Braunton is now on of the biggest villages in England (with a population of 8,000) and in the high season his trade increases by over 100% so he has to have a range he can trust  - both for his staff and for the quality of product they sell.

The range installed was specifically designed to his own exacting requirements - an 'L' shaped island range with 7 High Efficiency pans with touch screen controls, 2 chip boxes with halogens overhead, in-built filtration with separate return pipes, a waste oil dump pipe (to make emptying the range of oil a joy rather than a chore!), mirror glass doors (which enhance the food presentation to the customer), and the 2 bain maries even have their own built in cup dispensers. A bespoke counter area was also manufactured by Florigo - hand crafted from stainless steel, with space for his drink coolers to be installed and coloured down lighting to enhance the mirrored counter front and complement the decor of the rest of the premises.

'The Chips are better', says Mike 'and the fish is more consistent than ever before, changing to basket frying (we had round pans before) has made the chips so much better and for me, mentally and physically, to get the product just right is vital. Fish & Chips are one of the best meals you can get', he continues, 'a wholesome natural product, with no additives, and there are not many meals that are as tasty - that's why I am pleased to be a part of such a great industry'.

Squires offer a wide range of foods on their menu catering to every taste - from fresh award winning cod (Mike also ensures his fish comes from sustainable fishing grounds) which is weighed at the point of sale to ensure portion size, healthier options like poached salmon with a side salad, home made steak & ale pies & burgers, a wide range of vegetarian options and all are freshly cooked on the premises - and as he is licensed you may like a glass of chablis or Rioja to wash it all down with! To cope with the huge volume of business (especially during the summer season) he has installed a ticketing system - ensuring that no one has to wait too long or lose their place in the queue!

The restaurant and takeaway are obviously extremely successful, Mike cares deeply about the presentation, the cleanliness, the efficiency and politeness of his staff and of course the quality of the food they produce, 'I was born in the flat above', he says 'my parents started the business, I am running it now and now my children are working here too, its hard work but very rewarding!'.

The final word to Rick Stein… 'I found the fish & chips great with a very light batter covering a thick fillet of very fresh fish and the chips were thick and floury on the inside and beautifully crisp of the outsid'. (Seafood Lovers Guide – Rick Stein)

Take a look at their website - www.squiresfishrestaurant.co.uk