AN AUSTRALIAN couple are celebrating 30 years of memories, from having their own fish restaurant in Southend.

Sam Economou, 68, grew up in Australia, and married his wife Frida Economou, 60, in 1976.

Echo:

Pair - Sam Economou, 68, grew up in Australia, and married his wife Frida Economou

After moving to Southend, the pair decided to invest in their own fish restaurant, and will have owned The Fish House, on East Street, Southend, for 30 years on May 21 this year.

Sam explained: “Going from Australia to Southend was quite a change. Previously, I’d worked with my uncle who owned his own fish shop in London and from that point on I knew I’d want my own one day.

“Opening and running the business with my wife has been amazing. People always say you shouldn’t work with your partner, but we have and it’s worked for us for the past 30 years!”

Since first opening, The Fish House has proved a major success, winning numerous awards in its time.

Mr Economou continued: “A football magazine called Four By Four named us as the best fish and chip shop to be based near a football ground in the country, and we won this ever since it started.

“Numerous times, we have been named as the best fish and chip shop in Southend, and we’ve had some of our best memories in here.

“About seven or eight years ago we were interviewed for Good Morning Britain, when Southend were playing Chelsea in an away cup match, where a Chelsea player took the Southend one of out for dinner.

"When they did a home game, the Southend player wanted to return the favour but couldn’t afford to take them out for dinner, so they came here!

“All my children Andreas, who is 35, Christina, who is 37 and Stephanie, who is 39, grew up in the shop and help out here.

“It’s our second home.”

Throughout their time owning The Fish House, the couple managed to overcome any challenge which came their way.

Sam added: “It’s not been all smooth sailing. When we first bought the fish fryer range, it kept catching fire and we struggled to get by until we had to spend £30,000 on a new one. The fire department had to come out twice.

“We also at one point had to fight through a recession, but being a family business we pulled through and stuck together every step of the way.

“Here’s to the next 30!”