A new barbershop is set to open at the site of Crewe's former Tenchy's Fish & Chips, with its ex-owner raising concerns about parking and reminiscing about his time running the chippy.

Dark Barber is set to open on Earle Street this December, a premises previously set to open as a Sizzlers takeaway which never came to fruition.

The new barbers will open over seven years after Tenchy's Fish & Chips closed down at the unit operated by Shaine Ashley Tench, 29, from Crewe.

Shaine Ashley Tench operated Tenchy's Fish & Chips on Earle Street between 2014 and 2018 (Photo: Supplied).

Shaine told Nub News: "I have mixed emotions about my old chippy being converted into a barbershop.

"That building has been a chip shop for as long as I can remember. I used to go there with my grandad when it was the Crewe Town Fryer, and I know many members of the community will share similar memories.

"It is genuinely upsetting to see something with so much local history disappear.

"That said, the building had begun to look abandoned and was having a negative impact on the appearance of the area.

"Bringing it back into use as a barbershop will give it a fresh lease of life and may help increase footfall for nearby local businesses, which is a positive outcome.

"One potential concern, however, is parking. There is a small car park, but it was intended for short visits, such as popping into the shop or the chippy.

"Barbershop appointments typically last 30 minutes or more, which could lead to an increase in vehicles parking on the pavement. This raises safety concerns for pedestrians, particularly as the premises is located next to a primary school."

Tenchy's Fish & Chips operated from the Earle Street premises between 2014 and 2018, with Shaine running the business from the age of 18.

Shaine Ashley Tench believes the opening of Dark Barber could cause parking issues on Earle Street (Photo: Ryan Parker).

Shaine said: "There are too many memories of Tenchy's Fishy & Chips to list, but to highlight one, it would be the relationships built with members of our community. Interacting with elderly members of the community was always especially important to me.

'Taking the time to speak to people truly matters. You never know how difficult someone's day might be, and a simple conversation can be the light that brightens their day and helps ease feelings of loneliness.

"The live food giveaways and live videos were about more than advertising. They were a way of bringing the community together, and it was incredibly rewarding to be part of that.

"I enjoyed the challenge. Davison's had an extremely poor reputation due to previous management, and transforming it into a place people wanted to eat at was no easy task.

"However, the incredible support from the Crewe community made it possible, and it turned into a great success.

"Some might say Tenchy's Fish and Chips was like Marmite, you either loved it or hated it but it was always a talking point.

"We were the first fish and chip shop in Crewe and Nantwich to join Just Eat, and we also launched our own app and website.

"We were also the first local fish and chip shop to introduce eating challenges, and the only one in the area to regularly offer 50 per cent off the menu, ensuring everyone had the opportunity to enjoy Britain's favourite dish.

Shaine Ashley Tench, who ran the Earle Street chippy from the age of 18, gave up the business to focus on his health and mental health (Photo: Supplied).

"The obvious thing I enjoyed the most was eating the food, which was the reason why I closed its doors in 2018 to focus on my health and mental health.

"I love Crewe. I genuinely wouldn't want to live anywhere else. However, our town centre has suffered greatly, and it's sad to see that there are now more closed shops than open ones.

"That said, I do believe things are starting to improve. More local businesses are investing in the town centre than ever before, but what we truly need is better variety, not the same flashing signs and shops selling the same handful of products as the other 15-plus stores within a mile radius."

READ MORE: Crewe woman banned from roads after drink-drive smash into parked cars.

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