Fish Kitchen 1854 confirm opening date of new Bargoed store

Lee Humphreys and Samantha Humphreys, owners of Fish Kitchen 1854 in Maesycwmmer, are set to open Fish Kitchen 1931 in Bargoed next month.

The new shop, which will have an industrial feeling inside, is one of the oldest chippies in Wales with it first opening in 1931.

Located on Upper High Street in Bargoed Fish Kitchen 1931 will hold a soft opening for the takeaway on 10 November and an invitation only soft opening for the restaurant on 16 November.

Samantha Humphreys outside Fish Kitchen 1931 (Image: Lee Humphreys)

Getting the new shop ready to open was so no easy task as the store was initially set to open in 2020 but was pushed back due to covid.

Lee said: “We are finally there!

“The soft opening for takeaway is 10th November and then the following Thursday 16th, we are having an invitation only soft opening for the restaurant.

“The evening starts at 6:30pm to 9pm, and we will have taste testing of the dishes that will be on our menu.”

The restaurant will host 58 people and guests will be given an ‘historic fish and chip experience’ focusing on the industrial heritage of the area around 1931.

Double dipped chips from Fish Kitchen 1854 (Image: Newsquest)

Fish Kitchen 1931 also has a very special meaning to Lee as his late father, Gary Humphreys, used to go to the same chippy as a child with his mother.

In a touching tribute Lee said he is doing it 'to make his father proud.'

Lee said: “Fish Kitchen 1931 first opened as a fish and chip shop in 1931, it is one of the oldest chippies in Wales. It has an industrial and rural feeling inside.

“I lost my father in April this year, he was the driving force behind it all and he was only 67. He was an old school miner.

Lee's late father Gary Humphreys (Image: Lee's late father Gary Humphreys)

“I took him to the second site, and he just stood there in awe. My dad’s mum died when he was 10 and he used to sit in that chippy with him mum. This is one of the huge motivations behind buying it.”

Customers at Fish Kitchen can expect ‘world class’ fish and chips, oysters, lobster, mussels, homemade mushy peas and tartare sauce.

The couple recently celebrated that Fish Kitchen 1854 in Maesycwmmer was voted the number one chippy in the National Fish and Chip Awards.

Samantha Humphreys inside Fish Kitchen 1931 (Image: Fish Kitchen 1931)

Lee said: “We have recently been voted 2nd in The UK National Fish & Chip Awards and Wales‘ number 1.

“We are becoming a strong well-known brand.

“We are passionate about what we do and about how our establishment can positively impact the regeneration of Bargoed Town Centre.”