A BRITISH takeaway staple is back on the menu after a fish and chip chain announced it would be reopening.

Two of Harry Ramsden’s Sussex sites will be back in business tomorrow.

The vast majority of stores have been shut since the start of the UK lockdown, with a few sites opening briefly to offer meals to key workers. But owner Deep Blue Restaurants has now decided the time is right to reopen its Brighton and Eastbourne restaurants for takeaway only.

Chief executive and founder James Low explained the decision and urged customers to be “responsible”.

He said: “We are expecting to attract a lot of people who have been looking forward to spending some quality time with their families and enjoying fish and chips on the beach.

“This prolonged period of isolation has been very challenging for many and we want people to enjoy their outdoor leisure activity, while adhering to the rules and respecting one another.

“While our takeaways could have remained open during the lockdown, we wanted to make sure we were taking responsible steps, applying new safety measures for our staff and customers and waiting for the right time to reopen.

“We are confident this is the right time and we very much hope people will be able to enjoy their Harry Ramsden’s fish and chips at the seaside this week.”

David Ellison, Deep Blue Restaurants’ chief operating officer, explained how the business was looking to maintain the safety of customers and staff after reopening.

He said: “Customers will be asked to queue with clearly marked two metre distancing and we will provide sanitising stations for customers entering and leaving the store.

“Teams in our seaside locations are used to dealing with large numbers during busy periods so we believe these locations are best placed to reopen since the restrictions on the public have been eased.

“We have been liaising with local authorities regarding our social distancing measures to make sure we are doing everything we can to keep our team and the general public safe.

“We will be encouraging customers to be mindful of their behaviour when it comes to social distancing and to act responsibly when disposing of packaging.”

Harry Ramsden’s follows several other takeaways in announcing it will reopen with a limited capacity.

Fast food chains including Subway and Burger King have fired up their ovens at Sussex sites this month with others expected to follow suit soon.

This comes after Boris Johnson announced his “roadmap” to lifting the UK lockdown last week.