Deep Blue Restaurants, a leader in the fish and chip sector, has sold nine of its eponymous locations to focus on growing the Harry Ramsden’s brand.
The group is the UK’s largest operator of fish and chip restaurants and takeaways, owning brands such as Deep Blue and Fish & Chips @ 149.
The company began divesting its eponymous sites last year to concentrate on Harry Ramsden’s, the 96-year-old fish and chip chain it acquired from Boparan Restaurant Group in 2019.
The company’s recent accounts reveal it sold nine Deep Blue locations from October 2024 to May 2025 under its strategic disposal plan.
The company currently lists 16 Deep Blue restaurants and eight Harry Ramsden’s locations on its website.
Proceeds from the sales were reinvested into refurbishing key Harry Ramsden’s restaurants, including the Brighton location, as well as funding national and international marketing campaigns.
Deep Blue reported that profits were primarily driven by franchising and licensing of the Harry Ramsden’s brand. The group recently signed heads of terms for a major licensing agreement with a leading UK supermarket, which it expects to generate “substantial cash inflows.”
In the year ending 24 September 2024, Deep Blue Restaurants experienced a 2.5% decrease in turnover to £22.9 million, alongside a 1.2% decline in gross profit to £15.8 million.
Pre-tax losses fell to £2.2 million from £3.6 million the year before, with EBITDA rising from £2.1 million to £2.2 million before adjustments.
The group also secured £5.57 million in debt funding between October 2024 and February 2025.
James Fleming, Chief executive, wrote in its accounts: “As in prior years, global events, the cost of living crisis and food cost inflation continued to present headwinds to trading in the first three quarters of FY 2025. Despite this, performance has been robust. Looking at the sites on a like for like basis (to account for the disposal of some stores) the group is trading in line with the budget set at the start of the year.
“Continued success with the franchising and licensing of the Harry Ramsden’s brand has further driven revenue and profitability across the group. Management continue to focus on developing this element of the business, and there have been further new contract wins into 2025.”
