| The Wetherby Whaler | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1989 |
| Food type | Fish and chips |
| County | Yorkshire |
| Country | England |
| Website | Wetherby Whaler |
The Wetherby Whaler is a chain of fish and chips restaurants in the United Kingdom. The first restaurant was founded in 1989 in Wetherby with six more having been subsequently opened across Yorkshire in Guiseley, Wakefield, York, Pudsey, Empire Outwood and Tadcaster (takeway only). [1] [2] [3]
Phillip and Janine Murphy founded the Wetherby Whaler restaurant in 1989 having worked in fishery in Tadcaster since 1969. [4] [5]
The second restaurant in the chain was opened in 1990 in Pudsey. [4] More branches were opened thereafter; York in 1996 (which was expanded in 2014), [6] Wakefield in 2001 and Guiseley in 2012. [2]
Guiseley fish and chip shop Harry Ramsden's was acquired by the Wetherby Whaler in 2012 for £500,000. [7] [8] Considered by reviewers in The Metro and The Guardian to be the "spiritual home" of fish and chips, [1] [8] [9] [10] Harry Ramsden's had gone into administration six months before the sale due to financial issues. [1]
A charity musical performance with a storyline based on fish and chips was held at the Guiseley restaurant in 2016. [11]
Reviews of the Wetherby Whaler restaurants have been generally favourable. Yorkshire Life identified the Wetherby Whaler as one of the best fish and chip shops [12] and the best gluten-free restaurant [13] in Yorkshire. The Yorkshire Evening Post also placed the Leeds branch among its list of top restaurants in the city. [14] The restaurants' gluten-free menus have received praise from several coeliac restaurant reviewers. [15] [16]
On National Fish and Chips Day, the restaurants offer a large meal as part of the "Impossible Fish 'n' Chips Challenge" which is traditionally attempted by local news reporters and restaurant reviewers, to varying degrees of success. [17] [18]
In January 2017, The Wetherby Whaler won the National Federation of Fish Friers Fish and Chip Quality Award after an inspection based on hygiene standards, staff training and food quality. [19] [20]
The Wetherby Whaler regularly sponsors regional awards including the Yorkshire Choice Awards [5] and the Yorkshire Young Achievers Award. [21] [22]
In 2015, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance awarded the chain a corporate sponsor recognition award for the fundraising they have done since 2012. [23] [24]
Fish and chips is a hot dish consisting of fried fish in batter, served with chips. The dish originated in England, where these two components had been introduced from separate immigrant cultures; it is not known who combined them. Often considered Britain's national dish, fish and chips is a common takeaway food in numerous other countries, particularly English-speaking and Commonwealth nations.
Boston Spa is a village and civil parish in the City of Leeds in West Yorkshire, England. Situated 3 miles (5 km) south of Wetherby, Boston Spa is on the south bank of the River Wharfe across from Thorp Arch. According to the 2001 census, the parish had a population of 4,006 rising to 4,079 in the 2011 census.
Guiseley is a town in metropolitan borough of the City of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is situated south of Otley and Menston and is now a north-western suburb of Leeds.
Wetherby is a market town and civil parish in the City of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is close to West Yorkshire county's border with North Yorkshire, and lies approximately 12 miles from Leeds City Centre, 12 mi (19 km) from York and 8 mi (13 km) from Harrogate. The town stands on the River Wharfe, and for centuries has been a crossing place and staging post on the Great North Road midway between London and Edinburgh.
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 35 owned and franchised outlets throughout the UK and Ireland.
Matthew Corbett is an English former actor, singer, comedian, magician, puppeteer, television presenter, and writer, best known for presenting The Sooty Show and later Sooty and Co. He is the son of Sooty's creator, Harry Corbett, and took over the show from his father in 1976. He retired in 1998.
Harry Corbett OBE was an English magician, puppeteer, and television presenter. He was best known as the creator of the glove puppet character Sooty in 1952.
A fish and chip shop, sometimes referred to as a chip shop or chippy, is a restaurant that specialises in selling fish and chips. Usually, fish and chip shops provide takeaway service, although some have seating facilities. Fish and chip shops may also sell other foods, including variations on their core offering such as battered sausage and burgers, to regional cuisine such as Greek or Indian food.
Collingham is a village and civil parish 2 miles (3 km) south-west of Wetherby in West Yorkshire, England. It is in the City of Leeds metropolitan borough. The population of the civil parish as of the 2011 census was 2,991.
Clifford is a small village in West Yorkshire, England. The population at the 2011 Census was 1,662. The village is 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Wetherby. Many of the older buildings are built of magnesian limestone.
David Patrick Brown is an English footballer who plays as a striker. He came through the Leeds United Academy, before moving to Nottingham Forest. He scored on his Football League debut for Bradford City. Throughout his career he has won 3 promotions and has claimed Player of the year on one occasion in 2015.
Leeds City bus station serves the city of Leeds, England. Owned and managed by West Yorkshire Metro, it is situated between the Quarry Hill and Leeds Kirkgate Markets areas of Leeds city centre. The National Express Dyer Street Coach Station adjoins the bus station.
Leeds, also known as the City of Leeds, is a metropolitan borough with city status in West Yorkshire, England. The metropolitan borough includes the administrative centre of Leeds and the towns of Farsley, Garforth, Guiseley, Horsforth, Morley, Otley, Pudsey, Rothwell, Wetherby and Yeadon. It has a population of 809,036 (2021), making it technically the second largest city in England by population behind Birmingham, since London is not a single local government entity. Local governance sits with Leeds City Council and the city's 32 Parish Councils.
David Thomas Syers is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
Ranjit Singh Boparan is a British businessman, and the founder and owner of 2 Sisters Food Group with his wife Baljinder Kaur Boparan. Known as the "Chicken King" in the West Midlands, he has an estimated personal fortune of £600 million.
Boparan Holdings Ltd. is a company based in Birmingham, England, that owns food production and restaurant businesses. It is owned by Ranjit Singh Boparan and his wife, Baljinder Kaur Boparan. In March 2020, Boparan acquired an Italian restaurant chain Carluccio's for £3.4 million. In October 2020, Boparan purchased Gourmet Burger Kitchen.
Lewis Anthony Clarkson is an English professional footballer who plays for Tadcaster Albion, as a striker.
Jonathan James Maxted is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL League Two club Newport County.
