Cos Michael, the 41-year-old owner of Pisces Fish Bar in Heswall, Wirral, has emphasised that running a third-generation fish and chip shop is about more than winning awards. He told the ECHO that continuing the family business, which began in the early 1960s, brings both pride and a sense of duty.
Family roots in the trade
The family's involvement in the industry started when his Cypriot grandfather, also named Cos Michael but known to most as Mike, established Michael's Fast Food after settling on the Wirral. The business evolved through various transformations before the family took over the former Busy Bee site in 2004. Since then, Pisces has become one of the region's best-known fish and chip shops.
Cos, originally from Moreton but now living in Manchester, said: "I'm proud to be the third generation of our family in the fish and chip trade. My grandad started this all the way back and it's grown ever since. Carrying that legacy forward is a privilege, but it also comes with responsibility. Every day you're trying to live up to the standards that have been built over decades."
Commitment to consistency
He highlighted that the shop's biggest priority is consistency: "Whether you visit us today or six months from now, you should get exactly the same quality and experience. That's what keeps people coming back all this time." Cos has been in the industry since he was 11, helping out at his family's shop, and he explained that maintaining those standards requires significant commitment behind the scenes.
He said: "We never compromise on quality. For us, it's about provenance, sustainability and consistency. If the fish isn't good enough, we simply won't buy it. That's been our philosophy from day one. We aren't here to make a quick buck." He added that he drives more than 600 miles a week just getting to and from work to ensure the business runs exactly as it should.
Family dynamics and awards
Working with family can be challenging, but Cos noted: "We've been doing it for so long that we know how to make it work. We're structured, we trust each other, and we're all working towards the same goal. It's chaotic, but that's how we like it, busy. It's like water off a duck's back at this point, really."
Pisces has gained national recognition at the first-ever English edition of The Fish and Chip Awards, being named among the North West's leading fish and chip shops. Cos was also recognised as one of the UK's top fish friers. He said: "It's fantastic to be recognised nationally. Personally, being named among the UK's best fish friers means a great deal because it's taken years to master that craft. But the shop awards belong to the whole team. They're recognition of the standards everyone works so hard to maintain."
He concluded: "We don't chase awards – the awards follow us. They're a bonus and a testament to the hard work of everyone at Pisces, but they're never the reason we do what we do. If there is anything people take from seeing our name in these awards, it is to encourage your local independent shops like us."
