‘This is a time to give’: Prem’s Seafood Bar and Grill gives out free fish and chips

Prema Smith woke up one morning and realised he wanted to give back to the community. Two days later, he was handing out free fish and chips.

Prema Smith serving fish and chips to those in need. Picture: Supplied.

The Christmas spirit was on full display in the North-West when a restaurant owner gave out free food to the public.

On Christmas Eve, Prem’s Seafood Bar and Grill set up a bain-marie on the footpath outside the Devonport restaurant and gave out around 150 free meals.

Owner Prema Smith said it was all about giving back to the community.

“I know there are a lot of people who are struggling with all the cost of living issues and losing loved ones,” Mr Smith said.

“This is a time to give, and I said to my partner ‘on Christmas Eve, I want to give away free fish and chips and some prawns and feed the community’.

“I want to bring that magic back, which is what Christmas is all about.”

Some of the patrons who were given free fish and chips. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Smith said he came up with the idea two days before Christmas Eve.

“I’m the type of guy that wakes up in the morning, and I want to do something today,” he said.

“Everyone was like ‘why didn’t you prepare this three weeks ago?’

“Because it was such short notice, I had to drive to Launceston to get the seafood and borrow a bain-marie.”

Mr Smith said he was surprised with the turnout, with a line of 50 people queued when the food was starting to be served.

“I didn’t want people to feel they were of less by coming,” he said.

“That’s why we didn’t say ‘we’re feeding those who are in need’; we just wanted to feed everyone.”

While serving the food, Mr Smith said he was able to meet some amazing people.

“People were telling me about how they had lost a loved one, didn’t have anyone to spend Christmas with, or their family was on the other side of the world.

“There was a huge amount of people that didn’t get to spend Christmas with anyone.

“My partner and I just wanted to give back, and that’s who we are as people anyway; we love doing this type of stuff.

“It’s about connection, and it’s about impact.”