Picture: Alan Mak MP with Jeff and Caroline Clark and family at Coastguard Café
Local MP Alan Mak has praised Hayling’s Coastguard Café for their outstanding customer service and community spirit as he visited the popular fish and chip shop on the Island’s Seafront.
Mr Mak hailed the historic takeaway as an excellent example of a successful family-based business, following their success at this year’s Havant Small Business Awards, which was organised by the MP.
Following this year’s inaugural awards, Mr Mak is visiting a range of winners and finalists to see how they are getting on. The event, which was designed to showcase and celebrate the best of local business, saw hundreds of residents cast nominations for their local favourites across twelve categories.
The Coastguard Cafe - originally Coastguard Cottages - was first established on Hayling Seafront by Victor and Annie Elliott in 1942. The business was initially conceived as a tea rooms, with a fish and chip takeaway next door.
During the 1960s, the popularity of the fish and chips grew, with customers taking food away to the waterside, convincing the family to concentrate on the takeaway. The Coastguard Café has been a fixture of the Hayling seafront ever since. A fire in October 2002 necessitated a refurbishment, but owners Jeff and Caroline Clark have worked hard to retain the café’s period charm.
The café celebrates 75 years of trading next year, and continues employ 30 local people as a significant local small business. Owners Jeff and Caroline are also committed to the principle of reinvesting any profits back into the business in order to secure long-term stability and growth.
The Coastguard Café beat off some stiff competition in the Best Takeaway category, and the Hayling fish and chips purveyors were presented with the award for Best Takeaway 2016 by Ella’s Kitchen founder Paul Lindley and Havant MP Mak.
Following his visit, Mr Mak said: “The Coastguard Café is a real gem that has attracted residents and visitors alike for almost 75 years. The historic takeaway, which has retained its strong family feel and character despite a fire in 2002, is a great local business.”
The Havant MP added: “I was delighted to see The Coastguard Café recognised by residents in my Havant Small Business Awards. Jeff, Caroline, and the team thoroughly deserved the award for Best Takeaway 2016, and I wish them all the best for the year ahead!”
Coastguard Café owner Jeff Clark said: “Alan is a strong supporter of small businesses on Hayling, and his Business Awards really engaged the local community. We were delighted to win the Best Takeaway Award, and want to thank our customers and local residents for supporting us.”
Mr Clark added: “Fish and Chips has remained popular with locals and visitors alike, and I’m glad Alan’s Business Awards specifically back small shops and takeaways run by local families like ours."