Fins have never been better for fishmonger popular with Wigan shoppers

Darren Wakefield, who visits Standish weekly with his mobile business Darren’s Fresh Fish, has never seen so much demand for his products.

With people unable to dine out until the pandemic-related restrictions changed a few weeks ago, he believes people were instead making an effort to cook nicer meals at home.

And there’s still been a healthy trade since pubs and restaurants were allowed to re-open.

Former trawlerman Darren said: “Lockdown has been the best thing ever for us.

“It’s calmed down a little bit, but until the pubs and restaurants reopened, it was just manic, because anything you wanted you had to do yourself. Your restaurant was your home.

“Business was virtually double all the time. We have still retained quite a lot of those customers.

“Even though we have been in Standish for 16 years, we picked up lots of customers who work and who keep coming back because good fish is hard to find.

“It’s been fantastic. I know it’s not for some, but we are one of the ones that has gained.

“For us, I can’t complain whatsoever. It’s been amazing.

“I have been doing this job for 35 years since coming off the boats and it’s never been like this.”

Darren visits the borough every Friday, parking outside Standish Labour Club from 9am to 3pm.

People have been waiting for up to an hour to buy his fish, with social distancing meaning the queue snakes along the street, and some days his fish counter was left with nothing but ice.

His phone is already ringing on Mondays, as customers place orders ready for his visit to Standish at the end of each week.

Darren and his wife also sell fish in other towns around the North West, including Maghull, Burscough and Blackpool, and say the same demand can be seen there too.

He hopes customers will continue to visit his business to buy their fish.

Darren, who lives in Fleetwood, said: “A lot of the supermarkets shut the fish counters when lockdown happened and even though they have reopened, people realise the difference.”