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Fish supper Ulster-Scots style

by Simon Hunter

They're not 'coddin you on' at a Bangor Co Down fast food restaurant which has become the Ulster-Scot's finest fish and chip saloon.

 The recently-opened Gellie is doing a roaring trade with traditional fish and chips fans coming in for traditional fish and chips - the Ulster-Scots way.

 With an Ulster-Scots menu, Ulster-Scots name and owners with an Ulster-Scots accent, the Gellie is certainly in the finest tradition.

 For non-Ulster-Scots speakers - the Gellie is the kitchen on a fishing vessel and owners Simon and Janice McClurg were delighted to reflect their background with the name and feel of the shop.

 "It's going very well but we're still sorting out the menu," explains Janice.  "We sell fresh caught Portavogie cod, scampi and whiting."

 Getting a hold of top quality fish was never going to be a problem for the McClurgs because Simon is poacher turned gamekeeper, or perhaps fisher turned fryer.

 "My husband was a fisherman and now we have moved into this," says Janice.  "We didn't know which path to go down.  Quite a few  ex-fishermen have got into the chip shop business."

 Back  to the name and looking for that little bit of originality Janice thought she could reflect her proud Portavogie heritage.

 "There's a plaque inside the building, saying what the name means.  A lot of people didn't know what the Gellie was. Only if you were from our part of the country would you know.  We decided to put up a plaque to tell the customers why."

 With the success of the first month the punters definitely know where to "heid for a feed."