Harry Ramsden
| Industry | Fast food restaurants |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1928 |
| Founder | Harry Ramsden (1888–1963) |
| Headquarters | London, England |
|
Key people
|
Kevin Moon |
| Products | Fish and chips and themed dishes |
| Owner | Ranjit Singh Boparan |
| Parent | Boparan Ventures |
| Website | http://www.harryramsdens.co.uk/ |
Harry Ramsden's is a fast food restaurant chain based in the United Kingdom which offers fish and chips and assorted themed dishes. The business has 45 owned and franchised outlets throughout the UK and Ireland and serves around four million meals annually.
Harry Ramsden's website claims the business to be "Britain's longest established restaurant chain".
The business was started by Harry Ramsden (10 Feb 1888–1963) in 1928 in a wooden hut in White Cross, Guiseley, West Yorkshire, northern England. Three years later he moved into a new premises, complete with fitted carpets, oak panelled walls, and chandeliers. The original hut still stands on the same site adjacent to the main restaurant, which once held the Guinness World Record for the largest fish and chip shop in the world, seating 250 people, serving nearly a million customers a year. Harry Corbett of Sooty fame was a nephew of Harry Ramsden and played the piano in his uncle's original restaurant.
In 1954, the business was sold to Harry Ramsden's long term business partner Eddie Stokes for a large sum of GB£37,500, subsequently selling in 1965 to Essex-based Associated Fisheries.
In 1988, the company, which still comprised the original Guiseley fish and chips premises, was bought by Merryweathers, led by Chairmen John Barnes and Richard Richardson. Barnes and Richardson led the transition of the business from a single restaurant in Yorkshire to a world-famous brand.
In 1989, following a decision by their bank to withdraw funding, the management floated the company on the London Stock exchange. The public offer was over-subscribed by two and a half times. The next ten years saw rapid expansion throughout the UK and worldwide through company owned and franchised restaurants. Worldwide locations in Hong Kong, Australia, Epcot and Saudi Arabia added to the growing stature as an international brand.
A franchise deal with Granada motorway services to develop kiosk-style units ultimately led to Granada Ltd buying Harry Ramsden's for GB£20 million in October 1999. When acquired by Granada Harry Ramsden's comprised four company owned restaurants, twenty five franchises and sixteen Henry Higgins units. Granada expanded Harry Ramsden's into motorway locations. Some franchise territories infringed onto motorways so Granada bought the franchises back. In 2000, Compass merged with Granada. Under Compass, the business was expanded into motorway service station kiosks, contract catering locations such as schools, Post Office canteens, Little Chef, Butlins, and Haven Holidays.
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