Barnsley fish and chip shop owner future-proofs the nation’s favourite dish

A forward-thinking fish and chip shop owner from Barnsley is leading the way in making the nation’s favourite dish as eco-friendly as possible.

Craig Butcher, who owns Two Gates Fisheries in Shafton, has just completed the Net Zero Barnsley programme, delivered by The Business Village, in partnership with Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (BMBC).

He has reviewed every aspect of the way he serves fish and chips to save energy, minimise waste and reduce food miles. The business has also gained a Low Carbon Grant, through the programme, worth £12,499 to invest in a new £56,000 state-of-the-art electric frying range.

The Kiremko Jubilee frying range is widely regarded as the most energy efficient model on the market and is set to slash the business’ fuel consumption and carbon emissions by half.

Craig, who runs the fisheries with partner Sarah Thompson, said: “Joining Net Zero Barnsley has really helped me look at my business differently and develop it in ways that are good for the planet and for our bottom-line.

“We 100-per-cent want to invest in our future and the Low Carbon Grant is a great help. The new range is a huge initial outlay for us but if you’re buying the Ferrari of all chip shop ranges it’s going to be expensive.

“This range is engineered to be the quickest, safest and best insulated ever; and once it’s fired up the heat retention is phenomenal. When you need your range on eight hours a day, six days a week that’s absolutely core to the business. It makes top quality fish and chips too!”

Energy consumption analysis shows the new range should reduce Craig’s energy bills by £3,537 per annum and reduce carbon emissions by 8,045kg CO2 per annum. Over the expected 20-year life of the range, savings of 871,140kWh of electricity and 160.8 tonnes of CO2 will be made.

Two Gates Fisheries was founded by two brothers in 1935 with an old coal-fired range, the chimney of which remains in the hop today. Craig has replaced a 20-year-old range with his new model.

Craig added: “This business fried fish and chips for the community throughout World War Two and the Covid pandemic. We want to be here for people for another hundred years or more and becoming more sustainable as a business will enable us to achieve that. A net zero future has got to include fish and chips, right?!”

Craig has also cut carbon by re-organising and increasing storage so that he can reduce the number of deliveries of stock. He sources as many supplies as he can locally including Cannon Hall pies and Fox potatoes and has invested in an electric car for home deliveries. Further moves to recycle, fully replace single-use-plastics and investigate solar panels are in hand.

Net Zero Barnsley business development manager Kevin Steel said: “Two Gates Fisheries has embraced all the opportunities presented by the government’s legal requirement for UK businesses to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 – and Barnsley Council’s earlier target of 2045.

“Craig must be running one of the most forward-thinking fish and chip shops in the country and we hope his example will give others food for thought.”

Craig said: “I’d encourage other local businesses to get started on their decarbonisation journeys with Net Zero Barnsley. We’ve all got to do our bit and I’ve found it fascinating to work with experts and learn all about what it means for us.”

To find out more and sign up for support visit Net Zero Barnsley.

The Business Village is delivering the Net Zero Barnsley programme, in partnership with BMBC, as part of the Low Carbon Project, part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Sheffield City Council is the accountable body for the South Yorkshire region. The Low Carbon project has received £3,445,606 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus