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ONE of the last tangible links with the glory days of Hull's distant water trawler industry has closed its doors.
Stanton's fish and chip cafe near William Wright Dock served its final meal at the weekend after 100 years of family business trading.
For much of the 20th century Stanton's was a long time favourite feeding place among the hundreds of deep sea fishermen (and their families) before and after fishing voyages. But that industry went into steep decline in the 1970s following the Cod War settlement with Iceland.
The owners, Peter and Ann Stanton, have decided to retire and have been forced to close because, at the moment, there is no-one available to pick up the baton. They are the fourth generation of the family to run the establishment.
After the catching industry ended, the restaurant built up something of a cult following among former trawlermen and it also attracted visitors from other parts of the North and Midlands of the UK. Some locals visited the cafe two or three times a week. The business naturally bought its fish from the catches that were landed by the local trawlers, but after they went it had to rely on supplies from outside sources. Many regulars flocked to Stanton's during the final few days of trading for a last fish and chip meal.
The business started in St Andrew's Dock, the original fish dock at the beginning of the last century, but then moved to Albert Dock in 1975 before finally settling in William Wright Dock, close to Hull's modern Fishgate market.
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