Success Stories

For local businessman David Matthews, the fulfillment of his dream was all the more rewarding for being a long time coming.“If Conister hadn’t believed in me four years ago, I wouldn’t be where I am today. “

David had worked in fish and chip shops since his schooldays. Having left school after his GCSE exams, he enrolled in an apprenticeship scheme but after a couple of years, he realised that this was not his vocation. Instead, he took a full-time job in a chippy.

Over the next 15 years, David would keep to a steady career path in the catering industry, working in and managing a number of fish and chip shops. In November 2014, when the opportunity arose for David to purchase the popular Peel chippy ‘Peel Fisheries’, he simply knew that the time was right to venture out on his own.

David approached Conister Bank with his business plan, and things began to take shape very quickly indeed.

“From the beginning, I felt that the team really listened to our ideas and were genuinely excited by our vision. They also made borrowing the funds to buy the business as hassle-free as possible. In fact, within one week, we were ready to open the doors to the public!”.

Through the combination of Conister’s financial backing and the support of a dedicated and hard-working team, David’s business quickly thrived. After only 18 months, he was able to expand by opening a second chippy in Peel.

"If someone had told me all those years ago that I’d end  up running my own business, I wouldn’t have believed them. And if Conister hadn’t believed in me three years ago, I wouldn’t be where I am today. From day one, we’ve insisted on the highest quality produce, using Manx produce wherever possible, time-honoured methods, and great customer service. This has brought us to where we are now: a thriving business which is part of Peel’s community. "

In March 2018, David expanded the business further still with the purchase of Quayside Fish and Chip Shop, giving him three premises in Peel.