Elliot's Fish & Chips in Hunstanton could set up permanent shop to cater for growing vegan demand

A popular coastal chippy could soon have its own permanent premises if its owner’s plans come to fruition.

Elliot’s Fish & Chips has been a popular destination for Hunstanton residents and visitors for the best part of two decades.

Elliot Snart, who runs the van along Central Promenade with his partner, has recently experienced a boom in sales to vegan and vegetarian customers.

And now, in order to cater for that growing demand, he is in the process of setting up a sit-in restaurant on Beach Terrace Road.

That will give him more space - and pans - to provide gluten-free food in addition to the existing menu. If the plans go through, the shop would be situated around 100 yards from the trailer’s current spot.

It would be constructed in a unit that Mr Snart currently uses for storage. However, he recently discovered that it used to house a chip shop - meaning it is already tailor-made for the business.

“There’s not much work to be done there, so fingers crossed,” he said.

Mr Snart, 31, first starting selling vegan alternatives three years ago, but noticed that demand step up a notch at the start of 2021.

He has now re-branded and re-wrapped his trailer, utilising a ‘The Frying Vegan’ logo.

“I’m not vegan myself, but I’m almost dedicated to vegan products now because I’ve tried sourcing so many different vegan products to fry in my chip shop,” he said.

“I’ve invested in a bigger frying range, I bought all different utensils, everything - just to cater for vegans.

“I’ve become a vegan hotspot. All I wanted to do was cater for everyone, all the families.”

On one day earlier this week, Elliot’s even sold more vegan fish and chips than the regular product. The trailer will operate during half-term holidays until April, when it will then be open permanently until October.