Billericay RSS Feed Send your news, pictures & videos


Fishmonger shuts shop after 75 years

11:30am Wednesday 2nd November 2011 in Billericay

The fishmongers that has served people in Billericay for seven decades The fishmongers that has served people in Billericay for seven decades

A FISHMONGERS that has traded for nearly eight decades has closed and will be turned into a restaurant.

Goodspeeds in Chapel Street, Billericay – which up until the present day has still been run by the Goodspeed family – has been selling fresh fish for the last 75 years.

But in recent years the business has fallen into decline due to competition from the nearby Waitrose supermarket and it served its last fish on Friday.

There are currently 23 bars, restaurants or cafes in the town.

Phil Turner, Billericay ward councillor and Basildon Council’s cabinet member for finance and resources, said the shop’s closure was sad news He said: “It’s very sad to see something like this – which performs a unique function in the town – being replaced by more of the same.

“I think everybody is disappointed to see the shop go, but when the majority of supermarkets provide wet fish when you want it, I think the competition was too much.”

Over the last 15 months the Goodspeed family made several unsuccessful attempts to sell the premises, which at one time also operated as a fish and chip shop. However the shop, which is tucked slightly off of the main busy High Street, failed to sell and the family instead applied for planning permission to change it into a restaurant.

In its planning application the agent for the family cited “severe decline” in trade as the reason for closing the shop. It added that the family have been advised that a restaurant will be a more viable business.

Planning permission for the restaurant has already been granted by Basildon Council, although it is not yet clear what type it will be.

The Goodspeed family were unavailable for comment.

Comments(27)

R85 says...
11:44am Wed 2 Nov 11

What difference does it make how long something has been there? Supermarkets do it better then let them do it better – times have changed! Same family running the restaurant so there appears to be no loss to anybody whatsoever! If anything a gain to this family (more profit) and a gain to the town (people can get fish from Waitrose anyway and now have an extra restaurant).

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

westcliff willi says...
12:20pm Wed 2 Nov 11

surely a good quality fish restaurant is the ideal solution.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

sav25 says...
12:53pm Wed 2 Nov 11

Whilst it is sad that they cannot continue the business that their family set up, it is very true that times have changed and supermarkets just 'work' for everyone.

It's good that they have the sense to change what they are doing before it all goes downhill and debt-ridden - smart businessmen/women here - it's a shame more small businesses aren't as dynamic as these guys.

I wish them the best of luck in their new restaurant.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

justice for basildon says...
12:54pm Wed 2 Nov 11

Perhaps Billericay could have one of Basildon Town Centres Pound shops at least that would be different and no doubt would be something for Cllr Turners administration to object too.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Blind Haze says...
1:15pm Wed 2 Nov 11

Hopefully it will be a McDonalds that opens there. That's just what the area needs.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

saddo99 says...
1:31pm Wed 2 Nov 11

They've had their chips. I wish them Codspeed. Batter the devil you know.As for wet fish...is there any other kind?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

VANGE LES says...
2:14pm Wed 2 Nov 11

Blind Haze wrote:
Hopefully it will be a McDonalds that opens there. That's just what the area needs.
Are you joking nowhere really needs a McDonalds.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Blind Haze says...
2:18pm Wed 2 Nov 11

VANGE LES wrote:
Blind Haze wrote: Hopefully it will be a McDonalds that opens there. That's just what the area needs.
Are you joking nowhere really needs a McDonalds.
There must be a demand for them as more and more of them keep opening. Planning permission for another new one in the Greyhound Estate by the KFC has been requested.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

geezer, innit says...
4:07pm Wed 2 Nov 11

saddo99 wrote:
They've had their chips. I wish them Codspeed. Batter the devil you know.As for wet fish...is there any other kind?
kippers aren't that wet....

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

saddo99 says...
5:15pm Wed 2 Nov 11

geezer, innit wrote:
saddo99 wrote: They've had their chips. I wish them Codspeed. Batter the devil you know.As for wet fish...is there any other kind?
kippers aren't that wet....
Don't people smoke those?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

geezer, innit says...
5:55pm Wed 2 Nov 11

saddo99 wrote:
geezer, innit wrote:
saddo99 wrote: They've had their chips. I wish them Codspeed. Batter the devil you know.As for wet fish...is there any other kind?
kippers aren't that wet....
Don't people smoke those?
is that the funy smell I keep smelling when passing groups of da yoof in the park who seem to be able only afford one 'cigarette' between them as they are always passing it around?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Dr A Grass says...
2:33pm Thu 3 Nov 11

Whenever there is a vacant premise in Billericay i think they use the same tick sheet everytime. 1. Italian Restaurant 2. Indian Restaurant 3.Pub..... How about turning it into a mosque!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

geezer, innit says...
5:10pm Thu 3 Nov 11

Dr A Grass wrote:
Whenever there is a vacant premise in Billericay i think they use the same tick sheet everytime. 1. Italian Restaurant 2. Indian Restaurant 3.Pub..... How about turning it into a mosque!
if it was in Basildon they'd flatten it and sell the land off for housing!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

sav25 says...
12:55pm Fri 4 Nov 11

Dr A Grass wrote:
Whenever there is a vacant premise in Billericay i think they use the same tick sheet everytime. 1. Italian Restaurant 2. Indian Restaurant 3.Pub..... How about turning it into a mosque!
If you want a mosque, go to Islam. How about "anything that makes money" - that's what this economy needs

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

al coniston says...
1:05pm Fri 4 Nov 11

sav25 wrote:
Dr A Grass wrote: Whenever there is a vacant premise in Billericay i think they use the same tick sheet everytime. 1. Italian Restaurant 2. Indian Restaurant 3.Pub..... How about turning it into a mosque!
If you want a mosque, go to Islam. How about "anything that makes money" - that's what this economy needs
well, in recent times, a church and a doctors surgery have become places of muslim worship - nowhere is safe

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Dr A Grass says...
2:20pm Fri 4 Nov 11

Go to Islam? Where is that then?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

speedy88 says...
5:51pm Fri 4 Nov 11

my uncle owned goodspeeds fishmongers, and i can assure you that it will not be a restaurant ! the family did not comment so i am afraid this article is not actually correct! also the family have sold the shop and therefore no longer own it so it has made a considerable difference to the family. this article makes it sound that the goodspeeds are making another shop out of the premises when in fact this is completely wrong.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

bdickie says...
7:01pm Fri 4 Nov 11

Planning permission for A3 (restaurant) was obtained roughly two years by Mr & Mrs R G Goodspeed. The new owners have about a year before this expires.

http://planning.basi
ldon.gov.uk/PublicAc
cess/tdc/DcApplicati
on/application_detai
lview.aspx?keyval=KQ
0D6PCQ04400&searchty
pe=PROPERTY&module=P
3

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

speedy88 says...
7:26pm Fri 4 Nov 11

yes it was sold with the planning permission but the man who has brought it is not turning it into a restaurant

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

radioman says...
9:00am Sun 6 Nov 11

If Billercay thinks it needs a McDonalds, then it is a town ready to die.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Parsnip says...
11:43pm Sun 6 Nov 11

A nice oriental massage is just what is required there

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Dumbnut says...
1:43am Mon 7 Nov 11

saddo99 wrote:
They've had their chips. I wish them Codspeed. Batter the devil you know.As for wet fish...is there any other kind?
Salted cod.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Lady milly from Billericay says...
9:31am Mon 7 Nov 11

From the outside this shop looks the size of a peanut nowhere near as big as it looks in the picture. The high street is a thriving little place where it is often difficult to find anywhere to park. If cllr turner had his way a lot of the premises would be closed with many job loses and a cessation of the night time economy. Whatever this shop turns into it is better than an empty shop good luck to them.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Lady milly from Billericay says...
9:31am Mon 7 Nov 11

From the outside this shop looks the size of a peanut nowhere near as big as it looks in the picture. The high street is a thriving little place where it is often difficult to find anywhere to park. If cllr turner had his way a lot of the premises would be closed with many job loses and a cessation of the night time economy. Whatever this shop turns into it is better than an empty shop good luck to them.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Lady milly from Billericay says...
9:31am Mon 7 Nov 11

From the outside this shop looks the size of a peanut nowhere near as big as it looks in the picture. The high street is a thriving little place where it is often difficult to find anywhere to park. If cllr turner had his way a lot of the premises would be closed with many job loses and a cessation of the night time economy. Whatever this shop turns into it is better than an empty shop good luck to them.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

termite1944 says...
10:59pm Tue 8 Nov 11

Another restaurant?
NMo point in going to Bilericay to shop then!
The high street is full of pubs and cafe's!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Ironman says...
11:46pm Thu 10 Nov 11

All part of the great Govmnt plan over the years to develop out-of-town shopping centres and letting our high streets become eating and drinking establishments etc.

It's all about revenue/profit increases (sorry, I meant growth).

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

click2find

Most popular


About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree