Tag Archives: fish

Let the Celebrations Begin

No sooner have the staff at Hanbury’s Takeaway finished celebrating winning South West Independent Fish and Chip Shop of the Year 2013 than they’re getting on with organising their next big event to celebrate the fact that it’s 30 years since Hanbury’s opened in Babbacombe.

David says “We won the competition in 2012 and now we’ve won for 2013 as well which is absolutely thrilling. As I’ve now been here for 30 years we thought it was time to do something special and that’s exactly what we plan to do in a few weeks’ time.”

The idea is to have a day that benefits as many people as possible so David has combined offering his fish and chips at a stunning 30% off (1% for each year he’s been trading) and then giving all takings on the day to Rowcroft Hospice. David said “I’ve worked with Rowcroft many times and this seemed like an ideal opportunity to hopefully raise a bit of money for them. But also I wanted to do a special offer for all our loyal customers, as well as hopefully some new ones. We work very hard to provide great fish and chips and we’re very lucky to have so many people who enjoy coming to Hanbury’s and buying them from us. So, a special discount to say thank you to all our customers seemed like a good idea.”

This special charity day will be on Tuesday 23 October when the Takeaway will be open from 11.30am until 9pm. The price of a medium cod and chips will be reduced by over 30% from £5.95 to just £4 per portion.

In the meantime, Hanbury’s is looking for anyone who remembers when it opened or has any stories of eating at Hanbury’s from years gone by. Get in touch via Twitter, Facebook or e-mail hanburys@sky.com .

This event is being put on as part of Rowcroft’s Dine at Mine campaign.

Famous Face serves up Fish and Chips at Hanbury’s

TV Presenter and one of Torquay United’s biggest fans, Helen Chamberlain, was in the Bay last week and couldn’t leave without popping in to her favourite Fish and Chip shop, Hanbury’s. Helen was in the area filming for her Sky Saturday morning show, Soccer AM.

It turns out that Helen has always fancied serving fish and chips and when owner David Hanbury discovered this he was more than happy to help. He provided Helen with a Hanbury’s uniform and she set about serving customers in the Takeaway. David said “Helen was a delight. She’s a great ambassador for the area and has visited us for fish and chips many times. I knew she was a fan of fish and chips but I didn’t know she wanted a job! It was lovely to have a new member of staff in the Takeaway and she seemed to thoroughly enjoy herself. She can come back any time.”

Helen’s visit to the area will be featured on her Soccer AM show this Saturday so tune into Sky 1 or Sky Sports 2 from 10am for a chance to see more of her visit.

Start Spreading the News

A Barn Dance and Ceilidh, German Oompah Night, Hanbury’s Fish and Chips Music Festival, the pomp and ceremony of Armed Forces Day and, for 2012, an incredible Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular – that’s what will be on offer on Babbacombe Downs from Thursday 21 June to Sunday 24 June, the final weekend of the 2012 Babbacombe Festival.

The 2012 Festival Marquee is being sponsored by the HSBC in support of the Torbay Holiday Helpers Network which is the chosen charity of David Hanbury and the charity that both of his events will be in aid of. Tickets have now gone on sale for these few days of fun, fantastic entertainment, great food and a wonderful atmosphere. With a fully licensed bar stocked with over 20 real ales and cider no-one should be going thirsty either.

David Hanbury, who is responsible for the ever-popular Fish and Chips on the Downs Music Festival, is particularly excited about the new addition to the events line-up for 2012, the Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular. David says “We’ve never put on an event quite like this before. The evening starts at 6.30pm with Pimm’s on arrival. The tickets, which are £50 each, include a delicious 3-course meal with full waitress service. Entertainment throughout the meal from international singing sensation Tara Mathew is followed by the highlight of the evening, the fabulous Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular Show. This show has received great reviews and has been performed all around the world over the last 9 years.”

He added “I’m genuinely excited about this event. I’m delighted to be able to support the THHN in this way and hope that the evening will not only raise a significant amount of money but also raise awareness of the really valuable work that they do. The THNN has provided over 180 free holidays in the last 2 ½ years.”

 

Martyn Strange, promoter of much of the other activity on Babbacombe Downs over the weekend, says “The 2011 events went really well. This year, we’ve tried to bring together all the elements that people said they enjoyed in 2011 to offer a programme that should have something for everyone. Our Barn Dance and Ceilidh on Thursday 21 June is just £6 per ticket. With a full bar and hot food available it’s a fun, family evening out. The Oompah Night on Friday 22 June is always a popular night and we’re expecting tickets to sell-out again this year. They’re already going fast.”

Martyn added “Each year word spreads further about the great events that we put on here. Last year we developed a website www.babbacombefestival.com so that more people could buy tickets on-line which means that no matter where you live you can get hold of tickets for the events simply and securely. This worked very well for us and tickets for this year’s events are now available from the site.”

As well as the evening events, Babbacombe Downs will see thousands of people pour in during the daytime. Armed Forces Day is on Saturday 23 June with the veterans’ parade, music, stalls and an air show as a fantastic finale.

Sunday 24 June is the final day and the Hanbury’s Fish and Chips on the Downs Music Festival. A great line-up of live entertainment is planned throughout the day. Get your fish and chips from Hanbury’s takeaway from noon and take it along to eat in the HSBC Marquee whilst enjoying the music from bands such as Three Bags Full, Luke and Whose Army and Funkty Dumpty, to name just a few.

The Babbacombe Festival runs from 15 to 24 June and consists of a mix of community events, coupled with loads of great entertainment. For the up to date programme of what’s on when visit www.babbacombe.org . To buy tickets visit www.babbacombefestival.com or telephone 07977 535563.

“Best Trip out for a Decade”

“A Devon Mystery Tour” was the title of a fabulous day out on Monday 26 March for 49 guests and carers connected with the South-West based charity Dream-A-Way which provides holidays and outings for people with disabilities throughout Devon and Cornwall.

The morning was spent touring Dartmoor bathed in fantastic sunshine then heading over to Babbacombe for a walk along the Downs prior to a late lunch at Hanbury’s Fish and Chips Restaurant. Dream-A-Way Chairman Jeff Merrett said “This was our first visit to Hanbury’s and we were stunned by the wonderful welcome we received and delicious fish, chips and mushy peas served to all of our clients and carers. David Hanbury very generously provided our lunch completely free of charge. I love fish and chips and I can categorically state that the Hanbury’s experience will take a lot of beating. We will be back! In fact one of the lads on the trip said to me “Thanks Jeff, that’s the best trip I’ve been on for a decade”.”

David Hanbury said “It was an absolute pleasure to provide lunch for the group who were delightful company. I’m so pleased that their day out went well and that the sun shone for them. The work that Jeff and all those involved with the charity do is wonderful and entirely voluntary. The Dream-A-Way organisation provides a much-needed to service to the local community and anyone who thinks they might be able to help the group should get in touch with Jeff via their website at www.dream-a-way.org “

Dream-A-Way has helped many people within the Torbay area and has lots of local links. In fact Edward Thompson, Deputy Head of Combe Pafford School, is about to circumnavigate Dartmoor covering over 100 Tors and 100 miles on foot to raise money for the charity. If you would like to sponsor this epic trip which will take place from 2nd to 11th April please visit www.dream-a-way.org where you can find out more about this event as well as everything you need to know about the charity itself, the President of which is Nigel Mansell CBE.

Hanbury’s Happy Start to 2012

What a start to the New Year it’s been for David Hanbury and his staff at Hanbury’s Fish and Chips in Babbacombe, Torquay.  On Tuesday 17 January, at a prestigious awards ceremony at London’s Park Plaza Hotel, they scooped second place in the Independent Takeaway Fish and Chip Shop of the Year as well as being runners up in the Restaurant category.  This follows on from winning the South West Takeaway section of the competition at the end of last year.

 The award was presented by celebrity chef Richard Corrigan who said “Combining heritage with innovation, skill with approach, attention to detail with great produce, Hanbury’s is deserving of their title as one of the UK’s best fish and chip takeaways.  A brilliant execution”.

David Hanbury is thrilled with their achievement and said “This award is a wonderful way for us to start 2012.  We pride ourselves on real quality both in terms of our food and our service.  We believe that our customers know that but it is satisfying to have it recognised by others within the industry who visit so many fish and chip shops across Britain.”  Shops were assessed on a wide variety of judging criteria including product quality, customer service, food preparation procedures, hygiene, innovation, staff training and development, promotional activity and approaches to sustainable sourcing.  There was also a presentation to the judging panel by Hanbury’s General Manager, Jake Thorn.

Whilst Hanbury’s is well-known locally for its fish and chips, it’s almost as well-known these days for all its fund-raising for local charities.  David Hanbury said “2012 is going to be incredibly busy for us.  I’m currently working on two major events to be held in June.  We’re planning a stunning Las Vegas Night on Saturday 23 June as well as the ever-popular Hanbury’s Fish and Chips on the Downs Music Festival on Sunday 24 June.”  Both these events will take place in a spectacular marquee on Babbacombe Downs as part of the Babbacombe Festival and are to raise funds for local charity, the Torbay Holiday Helpers Network. 

In the meantime, David and his team are back home from the bright lights of the big city and doing what they do best…. making great fish and chips.