Deep Blue fish and chips brand take over Harry Ramsden estate

Deep Blue has taken on the entire estate of Boparan Restaurant Group's Harry Ramsden fish and chips brand.

The 90-year-old brand and its outlets in 34 locations across the UK, Ireland and Malaysia will be taken on in a debt-free deal, with Boparan retaining an interest in the united business.

The move, which Boparan Restaurant Group's chief executive Tom Crowley claims will allow the firm to focus on its core brands, follows a spate of closures across the company's other offerings.

In March the company agreed a CVA for both its Giraffe and Ed's Easy Diner concepts, leading to the closure of 27 sites and rent reduction agreements in another 13.

Crowley said: "This is an important strategic move for BRG and one which enables us to simplify our future business and allow us to focus on the opportunities for our core brands of Giraffe, Ed's Easy Diner, Fishworks and the roll out of Slim Chickens, while still retaining an ongoing interest in the Fish & Chip sector."

Deep Blue's founder and chief executive James Low added: "We are delighted with this transaction which has accelerated our growth, making us the largest player in the market by a considerable margin.

"Our immediate focus will be on the integration of the business into the Deep Blue organisation. Our amalgamation with Harry Ramsden's is a key milestone in our development but we remain committed to exploiting the unparalleled opportunities within the sector for further expansion."