A CHIPPY that recently opened in the town centre has been “slowly but surely” getting its name out to hungry customers across St Helens.

Opening up in the former Chipmunks building on Barrow Street, Kristen Lea launched ‘Alicia’s Plaice’ on Barrow Street in December 2022.

Naming the business after his nine-year-old daughter, it is Kristen’s first business venture after learning his trade in restaurants and Fish & Chip shops over the past 20 years.

Following a popular response to the opening on social media, Kristen said the team is still getting the word out of their location in St Helens, with customers often stumbling upon the chippy and unaware that they had opened.

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'Slowly but surely picking up'

St Helens Star: Inside Alicia's PlaiceInside Alicia's Plaice (Image: St Helens Star)

Kristen said: “We probably opened at the wrong time of the year as we haven’t had too many people coming in when the weather has been bad.

“But slowly but surely we’re picking up. Some people have not been aware that we opened or how late we open, as Chipmunk used to shut at 2pm before us.

“As it’s starting to get warmer, we’re hoping that more people will come in and we can stay open until around four or five o’clock.”

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Breakfast menu on the cards

St Helens Star: Upstairs at the Barrow Street chippyUpstairs at the Barrow Street chippy (Image: St Helens Star)

With a full menu including fish, chips, peas, and pies, Kristen said that the team at Alicia’s Plaice is also looking at opening up earlier and offering a breakfast menu, including sausage, bacon, and full English meals.

Kristen added: “As the Hardshaw Centre is closing soon, cafes will be leaving there so we’re thinking about putting breakfasts on with things like a full English on the menu.

“We have our upstairs where people can sit too [to accommodate this].”

Launching his own business in the midst of a cost of living crisis has provided financial difficulties for Kristen, with the price of “everything going up”.

However, he said that ‘Alicia’s Plaice’ prides itself on keeping its prices cheap and reasonable in the town centre.

Alicia’s Plaice opens from Mondays to Saturdays from 11am to 4 or 5pm.

St Helens Star: Alicia's Plaice opened up on Barrow Street in December 2022Alicia's Plaice opened up on Barrow Street in December 2022 (Image: St Helens Star)