From a seafood kiosk to an award-winning chippy serving thousands of meals a week, Spencer Gray shares with us the secret to success.

It is no surprise that Mr Gray, 47, co-owner of No1 Cromer, ended up working in the industry as it is in his blood. 

His great-grandad George Charles Bone established the seafood trade in King's Lynn in 1842 and his grandma June Gray ran fish shops in Hunstanton.

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He said: "I was always around the industry and it felt comfortable when I picked it up as a career."

Mr Gray started out with a seafood kiosk on Cromer seafrontMr Gray started out with a seafood kiosk on Cromer seafront (Image: Antony Kelly)

Aged 17, he purchased a former lifeboat shed on Cromer seafront for £1 from the council and he sold crabs, lobster and more. 

He later diversified and turned the space into a chippy and coffee shop with a seafood counter. 

After Mr Gray and his wife Rachel had children, they passed the business on to his cousin Scott Gray.

They then purchased Lucy's Chips and later Lucy's Fish and Chips at Norwich Market, now run by his other cousins Kingston and Barclay Gray.

Fish and chips from No 1 in CromerFish and chips from No1 in Cromer (Image: Supplied by No 1)

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The Grays teamed up with Galton and Tracy Blackiston and potato farmer Chris Griffin, who is no longer involved, to open No1 Cromer in New Street in 2012, in the former home of Regency Fish and Chips.

Mr Blackiston is also the chef patron at the Michelin-starred restaurant Morston Hall. 

No1 Cromer boasts a takeaway, downstairs fish and chip restaurant and Upstairs at No1 on the first floor serves seafood dishes and holds an AA Rosette for culinary excellence.

It is also one of 10 places in the running to be named 'Restaurant of the Year' at The National Fish and Chip Awards 2025.

L-R Spencer Gray (co-owner), Wayne Blackham (general manager) and Jamie McDonald (head chef)L-R Spencer Gray (co-owner), Wayne Blackham (general manager) and Jamie McDonald (head chef) (Image: Austen Dack @ Chippy Chat)

Asked about the secret to No1's success, Mr Gray added: "We have an extremely hardworking team who are passionate about the industry.

"We always use the finest products and have just introduced a new cooking oil created especially for us by the company Genco 1974.

"It is less carcinogenic, contains no palm oil and it makes our fish and chips less greasy, improving the taste."