Bridport Takeaway: Jodie Faulkner, James Nichols purchase business, reveal plans for revival

A beloved fish and chips shop that closed unexpectedly will be reborn under its new owners — a local realtor and her automotive boss husband. See their plans and when they’ll reopen >>

Bridport Takeaway, 109 Main St. Picture: Google Street View

A beloved fish and chips shop that closed unexpectedly earlier this year will be reborn under its new owners, who can be revealed as a local realtor and her automotive boss husband.

Bridport residents and holiday-makers alike were rocked by May’s closure of Bridport Takeaway at 109 Main St, which had operated continuously as a fish and chips shop for more than 50 years.

However, the deep fryers are set to bubble back to life after the business was purchased by Bridport locals Jodie Faulkner, owner of Water/House Real Estate, and her husband James Nichols, co-owner of Bridport Auto Works.

Water/House Real Estate owner Jodie Faulkner and husband James Nichols, co-owner of Bridport Auto Works, pictured with their three daughters, have purchased Bridport Takeaway after its unexpected closure in May. Picture: Mel Julin Photography

“We’ve taken a leap of faith and we’re hoping that the Bridport Takeaway can go full steam ahead again with some very careful planning behind the scene,” Ms Faulkner said.

“As a family unit, we’re all very much entrepreneurs, we’ve always been interested in business. It’s a passion of mine to build a business.”

Ms Faulkner said Bridport Takeaway was likely to reopen in “early August”.

“We’re starting from scratch, when we purchased the business, we purchased equipment and that’s it,” Ms Faulkner said.

“In the next couple of weeks, we’re looking into getting in some pretty awesome coffee and a La Marzocco coffee machine and we’re giving it a bit of a freshen up internally.

“We’re currently in the background setting up an online ordering system to be used over Facebook.

“We’ve also got future plans within next 12 months to open up the side of the building and have a serving window and build a wooden arbour for al fresco dining.”

The business’ likely operating hours are Tuesday–Sunday, 11am–8pm, with the possibility of extended hours in the summer.

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A key selling point of the new operation is the rediscovery of the recipe of the business’ “original batter”.

“I have been hunting to find that original recipe, it was held with one of the previous owners from many, many years ago, and I have got my hands on it,” Ms Faulkner said.

However, like the Colonel’s 11 secret herbs and spices, it will remain just that – secret.

“I can’t tell anyone, I’ve been given it confidentially,” she said.

Bridport mother-and-daughter Angela and Ella Faulkner will be the public face of the revived Bridport Takeaway, purchased by Angela's sister Jodie and Jodie's husband James Nichols. Picture: Supplied

The takeaway’s iconic shark motif will remain and be named Jimmy – after Ms Faulkner’s late grandfather Jimmy Pearce.

“Even in his nineties, he was still travelling from Launnie to Bridport just to get fish and chips, so keeping the shark is an emotional attachment in a way,” Ms Faulkner.

The public face of the revived takeaway will be Ms Faulkner’s sister Angela and 15-year-old niece Ella, who lives with Down syndrome.

Ms Faulkner said she is keen to provide employment opportunities to other locals, including teens, as a way of supporting “village life”.