It’s a cold and grey morning in Salford, yet Steve and Demetrios are awake and ready to work at their 40-year-old chippy. The machines are already whirring and the heat lamps make a continuous buzzing sound.
The Walkden Bar, also known as ‘Steve’s’ has created a reputation as a family business and a staple of Salford. They’re currently celebrating their 40th year business. The Walkden Road eatery offers a wide variety of foods, including kebab, Chinese food and of course, fish and chips. Steve, originally from Cyprus, is recently retired, or as his son calls him, ‘a man of leisure’. He smiles at his dad and hastily adds: “But, he still keeps an eye on us.”
Steve describes the 1985 opening fondly. “When I bought the shop, it wasn’t much. It took a few years to lift it up a bit,” he said. “It was difficult, but when I brought in the kebabs, it brought good business. Then, I built a good reputation.”
Almost as if on cue, a man strolls past the shop, shouting and waving. Steve and Demetrios wave back with a big smile.
“When we started it was fish and chips, but I was one of the first in the whole area to make kebabs,” he adds.
His son nods along and leans on the polished metal counter, not a speck of dust in sight. He’s wearing a black polo with the name of his family business embroidered on one side. “But our bread and butter is fish and chips,” said Demetrios before Steve interjects “I love fish, I can have fish every day. My fish is always good and fresh.”
Talking about his approach to customer service, Steve says: “I was kind to the customers. They respect me, but number one is the good food. I’ve made a good name now, and my business is getting better. To Salford people, this is known as ‘Steve’s.”
Demetrios, looking at his dad admiringly, adds: “You’ve been here for so long. Everyone knows you now.”
The past 40 years haven’t been without their ups and down, with the pair facing challenges from Covid and the ongoing cost of living crisis.
“The biggest problem has been the Russian war, because of the seas,” says Demetrios. “The cost of fish has been the hardest part.” He straightens up a little and nods. “But, we keep going.”
Russia is a major producer of whitefish. The conflict introduced tariffs and sanctions on seafood from Russian waters, driving up the prices of fish and forcing companies to source fish from elsewhere. Imports of of Russian cod and haddock fell from 16,000 tonnes to just 168 in 2024 according to The Ipaper. Fish and chip shops in the UK were hit hard by the price increases. This is one of the biggest challenges for chippies, alongside rising energy costs, which have forced many to close.
The Walkden Bar was featured on EdibleBible, a popular food blog on Instagram, two years ago. The post received 14,000 likes, and created an influx of customers desperate to try their sticky Chinese kebab. Demetrios shares the video with enthusiasm, the pair reminiscing on how busy their shop had become afterwards. Steve reveals that they had people from all over England visiting their small family business afterwards.
Around the same time, the family refurbished the shop. The grand re-opening was attended by actor Andrew Whyment, known for playing Kirk Sutherland on Coronation Street.
We talk about Walkden and their love for their community. Demetrios says: “We’ve grown up here, we were born here, our kids are here now. Me and my sisters all worked here growing up, and now our kids do. I’m involved with the school community, and we try to do our bit, charity and stuff- when we’re not working of course. It’s home for us.”
At the end of our interview, I ask whether there is plans for the business to stay within the family. Steve has a satisfied look on his face. ‘It’s up to them now.’
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