Davies Fish Shop in Cromer celebrates 50th anniversary

Davies Fish Shop first opened its doors in Cromer in 1974, with husband and wife Richard and Julie Davies setting up shop in West Street before moving to its current Garden Street home in 1985. 

Richard, a seventh-generation fisherman, would supply the shop with fresh crabs and lobsters caught from his boat 'JJF' - named after his wife Julie, son John and daughter Fiona - and his catch would then be dressed by Julie before being sold in the town.

Richard and Julie retired in 2009 and John and his wife Claire took over the shop.

John and Claire Davies celebrating the 50th anniversary of their fish shop in Cromer (Image: Denise Bradley)

Richard and Julie Davies Fish Shop in Cromer (Image: Supplied)

"Where has that 50 years gone?" John, 58, who followed in his father's footsteps catching the shop's crabs on his boat 'Gladiator' and now the 'Richard William', said. 

"I remember my parents opening the shop when I was still a schoolboy. Mother was always busy dressing crabs at home before and then all of a sudden she was dressing crabs in the shop.

"It does make you feel proud because there are a lot of shops which come and go and ours has stood the test of time. 

"Here's to the next 50 years."

John Davies with his boat and crew. From left the crew are, Stephen Barrett, Stuart Clarke and Henri Howe (Image: Denise Bradley)

John Davies delivers a day's catch to the shop in Garden Street (Image: Antony Kelly)

Richard, a former Cromer lifeboat coxswain, died of a brain tumour in 2010, aged 65.

John said his father would have been proud to see the shop still thriving in the town after half a century. 

John and Claire Davies, with John's mum Julie, celebrating the 50th anniversary of their fish shop in Cromer. With them, back from left, are their staff, Louise Stokes, Rose Ely and Chrissie Tanser (Image: Denise Bradley)

Richard Davies and his son John (Image: Archant)

"Without Claire, and the same with my father and my mother Julie, you just couldn't do it," John said. 

"We're very much a team and although the fishing and running of the shop are separate they go well together. 

"No matter where you go in the country people know about Cromer crabs. We're fortunate to have them. 

"People come into the shop from all over the country. The demand for Cromer crabs is still high." 

Richard and John Davies loading up crab pots (Image: Sam Robbins)

Julie Davies in an EDP photograph from 1980 at their fish shop in Cromer (Image: Archant)