A MUCH-LOVED fish and chip shop in Christchurch will be replaced by another chippy in September. 

In business for 25 years, Captain Cod in Stour Road will be turned into a new chippy named Sam's Fish Bar. 

After Captain Cod's owner Vicky Webster closed doors in July, Emre Arslan, 24, stepped has forward with his father, Mehmet Arslan, to take over the shop and are excited to open. 

Emre said: "It's our family trade and we've been in it for a long time. We're passionate for a nice, good fish and chips.

"We have experience and we're opening a brand new shop with brand new equipment to try and bring a nice quality fish and chips to the area."

Owning branches in West Sussex and Portsmouth, this is the first store owned by the company in Dorset.

Knowing Vicky before they decided to take over the store, Emre said Vicky had left big boots to fill but they hope residents will enjoy their product just as much. 

He said: "I knew Vicky a little bit beforehand and I just thought we should come over for a new adventure.

"She's retired now and has handed the keys to us. The shop has been there for 25 years so we're going to do our best and I hope people enjoy the product."

Established in 1996 by Mehmet, Emre decided to follow in his father's footsteps after he grew up surrounded by the fish and chip business and has become an integral part of it.

Asked what makes their fish and chips stand out, Emre was keen to talk about their batter.

He said: "We do a traditional fish and chips but we've got our own batter and it's fresh fish.

"There's lots of people asking as we're still decorating and refurbishing. They are coming and asking us what we're going to do. We're looking to open in the next two to three weeks around mid-September."

The shop will confirm in the coming weeks its official opening date.

Emre said he looks forward to meeting Christchurch's residents.