A FISH and chip restaurant in Worcester City Centre is set to open this week with a brand new owner.

Friends, on Lower Broad Street, is set to open this Friday, with new owner Marius Lunney, saying he "cannot wait" to get started.

He said: "It has all been brilliant so far and I cannot wait to get started at the restaurant.

"I am from Lincoln originally and have moved to Worcester for this new venture, and I am already really enjoying the city.

"The people have all been great as well which has made the opening all the more exciting."

Mr Lunney has previous experience working at fish and chip restaurants, but this is his first venture as a new owner.

He said: "I have been the second in command before but this is the first location I have owned.

"I have spent the last four days cleaning and making the place ready for the opening which has been hard work but enjoyable."

The restaurant was formerly known as Worcester Chippy, and most notably the Mediterranean Fish Bar.

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The price of potatoes has risen from £7.50 for a 25kg bag to £8.50 this year. Cooking oil has gone up from £16 a block, reaching £33 by the spring of this year with prices now hovering at £30.

Despite prices of potatoes and oil rising, Mr Lunney said that he still intends to keep his prices as low as possible for his new customers.

He said: "Prices are definitely high for ingredients at the moment but I always intend to keep my prices reasonable for our customers.

"We are a business at the end of the day and we need to make money but it is important as well to find the balance."

Pressures have also come from rising energy bills. 

We previously reported that the owner of The Crispy Cod, in Pinkett Street, Northwick, said that the industry is heading for 'disaster' unless action is taken.

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The restaurant opening will be from 3pm on Friday (September 16).