A FORMER sub-post mistress is bringing her family’s fish and chip empire to Bolton.

Alison Burns, aged 49, is opening up Alison’s Superb Fish and Chip Shop with her son, Paul today.

Mrs Burns set up her first chip shop in 2014 in Hindley and was able to call on the wealth of fish frying experience from two generations of her husband’s family.

She said: “In Hindley we’re part of the community, we have customers who come for a chat and a decent meal.

“Hopefully we will be a little part of the community here.”

The shop, which opens at 9am in Market Street, sells all the standard fare you would expect from a chippy, including pie and peas, chip butties, sausages and of course the all important fish and chips.

They also make a variety of cooked breakfast options.

A regular cod and chips is £5.50, chips and gravy is £3 and the full house breakfast is £6.95 including a drink.

Mrs Burns added she would be doing specials as well, including corn beef hash, which she says is popular in Hindley.

The shop in Market Street brings to total of family fish and chip shops to five, with other establishments in Bury Market, Stretford and Salford.

Mrs Burns’ husband, Phil Cartwright, was already in the chippy business when they met and Mrs Burns’ was able to fall back on the experience he and his parents, Ann and Roy, who are now in their 80s, had in the business.

She said: “When I first started out I asked them everything. If there were bubbles in the batter I’d ask and they’d tell me to throw it and start again.

“It’s easy running an establishment when you’re busy but when it’s quiet you have to take the decision to throw things out and not make too much, to keep everything fresh.

“The product has to be right, that’s what you’re selling and you need to know what to do and I have that experience now.”

Mrs Burns was not worried about setting up a new fish and chip shop so close to the already established, Olympus in Great Moor Street.

She said: “I’m not worried at all. People can come and try our product and make their own decisions. I’m confident people will come flocking here.”

The shop sits where retailer Mary-Jane’s was and in the past two weeks Mrs Burns and her family and contractors have been hard at work transforming the premises inside and out.

Phil Cartwright said he bought the shop about a year ago and had been renting it back to the retailer.

Alison’s will have a staff of 10 and currently has space inside for 40 customers, with plans for al fresco dining outside.

Alison’s could serve as a replacement for those who visited Alice’s chippy in Deansgate until it closed in 2014.

In 2015 the Pound Chippy in Newport Street opened but it did not last long. though chippy fans can still catch a bite at Pilling’s Fish and Chips on Bolton Market.