Bringing Generations Together: The Legacy of Family-Owned Knights Fish Restaurant
- Knights Fish & Chips Est 1909
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Salt, Steam & Spirit: The Five-Generation Story of Knights Fish Restaurant
There’s something magical about the smell of chips frying, the sharp tang of vinegar in the air, and the gentle clatter of cutlery as a customer tucks in. But here in Glastonbury, when you walk into Knights, you’re stepping into more than just a fish and chip shop — you’re stepping into 115 years of love, grit, tradition, and family.
My name is George, and I’m the proud fifth-generation manager of Knights Fish Restaurant. I grew up listening to stories, watching my family and grandparents give everything they had to this place. And now it’s my turn to keep the fire (or fryer!) burning.
The Beginning – A Woman & a new concept.
It all started in 1895, when Elizabeth Hockey was frying fish from her home at 5 Northload Street. Fish and chips were still a novelty back then — there was no name above the door, just the smell of fried fish and a reputation that started to grow. Across the street lived Louisa “Mary” Phillis, my great-great-grandmother, who eventually began working with Elizabeth and later took over the business in 1909.
Mary passed the reins to her daughter Louie, who married Frank Knight — and just like that, Knights was born. Louie was famous for her handmade faggots. People would queue with their china dishes to stock up — a tradition that might seem quaint today, but back then, it was a lifeline for hungry families.
But it wasn’t just about the food. Louie was a woman of warmth and kindness. Then Young customers — now in their 80s and 90s — still tell me how she used to slip them a bag of scrumps (or scraps, or gribbles, depending where you're from!) if they had no money. I’ve had grown men get misty-eyed telling me how, as little kids, they’d help peel potatoes or clean up just to feel part of the magic. That kind of generosity sticks with you. It becomes part of who you are.
Through War and Hard Times – The Strength of Family
During the war, fish and chips weren’t just popular — they were essential. Unrationed, hot, and filling, they were one of the few comforts left. My grandfather, William Knight, remembered it vividly: soldiers lining up in uniform, the coal-fired range roaring, and him as a small boy, falling asleep in a cupboard on a stack of newspapers used for wrapping.
There was no modern machinery. Everything was done by hand. Chipping potatoes, skinning fish, lighting the coal range, scrubbing the floors. No stainless steel, no timers, no fryers that beep when they’re ready. Just sheer manual graft. When I think about the hours they worked, the physical labour, the aching hands… I honestly don’t know how they managed. But they did. And they built something that still stands today.
Over the decades, Knights has weathered it all — Wars, depressions, recessions, power cuts, food shortages, the pandemic. But we survived, not because we were lucky, but because we were stubborn. Because we cared too much to give up.
The Call That Broke Us All
When we won the 2024 National Fish and Chip Restaurant of the Year award — a dream we’d quietly carried for years — the very first thing Mum and I did was call my grandfather. He was in hospital, very unwell, and we didn’t even know if he’d answer.
My Auntie picked up the phone. Her eyes were already full of tears as she switched it to video. “You need to tell him,” she said. She passed the phone to Grandad. Mum took a breath, her voice shaking. “Dad… we did it. We won.”
His bottom lip started trembling. Then, with the smallest, softest voice, he said, “I’m so proud of you both.”
This from a man who rarely spoke his feelings — who gave a quiet kind of love, always steady, always there, but never loud. That moment… I’ll never forget it. We were all crying. All five generations in that one second — everything we had worked for, everything he had built, everything he had taught us — it was all there in that trembling voice. He’s gone now. And some days, it feels unbearable. But that moment — seeing his lip tremble, hearing him say he was proud — it’s seared into me. It broke me and healed me all at once. I cling to it. I’d trade the world just to hear him say it again.
Homemade, Heartmade
At Knights, we’ve always done things the hard way — because the hard way is the right way. We still make our fishcakes by hand every morning. Our tartare sauce is mixed fresh with chopped herbs, pickles, and care. Our onion rings hand-cut, fresh crispy and golden. We don’t believe in shortcuts. We believe in flavour. We believe in honesty.
We offer a wide selection of responsibly sourced fresh fish — not just cod and haddock, but also plaice, lemon sole, hake, whiting, saithe, monkfish, and more. We’re proud to support the British fishing industry and to celebrate the incredible diversity of our seas. We work closely with our suppliers to ensure sustainability, helping to protect the waters that have fed us for over a century.
Community Isn’t Just a Word — It’s Our Soul
We’ve donated meals to frontline workers, supported charities, sponsored school projects, and given back whenever we could. This community has stood by us through world wars and lockdowns. The least we can do is stand by them, too.
One of my favourite moments is when an elderly couple walks in, points to a seat and says, “That’s where I sat on my first date.” Or when a grandparent brings in a grandchild and says, “Let me show you where my mum brought me for chips.”
That’s what makes it all worth it. Not just the awards. Not just the queues out the door. But those moments — those people — who carry our story in their hearts.
The Future is Family
We’ve invested in modern equipment, like our new Kiremko frying range, which allows us to cook cleaner, faster, and more sustainably. We’ve expanded our menu to cater to dietary needs and food allergies. And we’re training the sixth generation — teaching them that success isn’t in the sales, it’s in the stories.
Some days, when the shop is quiet and the sun is filtering through the windows just right, I stop and listen. I like to imagine I can hear them — Mary, Louie, Frank, Bill — still working in the back, still peeling spuds, still laughing at something we’ve long forgotten. And I whisper to them, We’re still here. We’re still cooking. We haven’t forgotten.
From Our Family to Yours ❤
Knights isn’t just somewhere you grab a bite. It’s where memories live. Where love comes wrapped in paper — steaming, golden, and made by hands that remember.
Thank you for being part of our story. 115 years strong, and every moment has meant the world. Here's to the next 115 — with heart, with history, and with you.
—Written by George Morey, fifth-generation Knight and current manager of Knights Fish Restaurant
That was beautifully written George, it actually made me cry.