Harry Ramsden's appetite increases

Harry Ramsden's is stepping up expansion with a raft of franchises set to open across Scotland, the south of England and resorts abroad.

The fish-and-chip chain is hoping to sign property deals shortly for East Kilbride, Aberdeen and St Andrews, to add to its sites in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness.

The 150-seat Scottish restaurants will open over the next two years, subject to planning permission.

An over-the-counter restaurant in Tenerife will also open this August. Situated on the beach at Playa de Las Americas, it will share a site with Pizza Hut and KFC, with a communal seating area for 700 people.

Executive chairman John Barnes said he was also looking at other resorts abroad. "The plan is to go to places where the British go on holiday. We'd like to go to Majorca and Gran Canaria and we'd love to be in Marbella," he said.

Separately, further overseas openings are expected following the deal with Compass earlier this year, which allows the contract catering giant to use the Harry Ramsden's brand internationally in airports, railways and leisure.

Harry Ramsden's is also looking at a site in Oxford and is seeking properties in London.