Briggs, Wallis and Benn has been serving fish and chips on Clayton Road in Bradford for years. Run by Shehzad Hussain and his family, it has built a loyal following by doing things the way they believe they should be done. The fish goes in the fryer when you order it. Sauces, tartar sauce, mint sauce, and mushy peas are all made in-house. Everything is cooked in halal beef dripping, which is rare in Bradford, and the shop is known for its British Raj menu: spicy fish and chips finished with sauce, spring onions, coriander, and chillies. It is a Bradford take on a British classic, and it has become a big part of what makes it stand out.
The shop has earned a strong reputation across the city. Regulars come back week after week, and word has spread about the quality of their food. For a business built on doing things properly, that kind of loyalty is not an accident. It is the result of years of consistency, care, and a refusal to cut corners.
That attention to doing things properly runs through every part of how the business operates, including who they trust to supply it.
A Supplier Relationship Built Over 40 Years
For Shehzad and his family, Cooksmill goes back long before the chip shop. Across four decades and several different catering businesses, as the family moved through different types of food operations, Cooksmill remained a constant. As Shehzad explains:
Cooksmill’s product range has only widened, and at every stage of our careers, where we've changed from different cuisines within catering, Cooksmill has never failed to provide everything that we need, be it from an ice machine to a dishwasher to a fridge to stainless steel utensils. And the product knowledge. There's always somebody there that would know, within the generations of the Cooksmill family.
That kind of continuity matters in a trade where relationships are built on reliability. Knowing that the same supplier who stocked your first kitchen can still supply your latest one, and has the knowledge to back it up, is something that takes years to establish and is not easily replaced
Equipment That Can Handle the Work
A chip shop is a demanding environment. Utensils work under high heat, constant use, and heavy cleaning every single day. Prep tools, serving equipment, and storage all face a tough shift each day that most domestic or light-commercial tools simply would not survive. For Shehzad, that makes quality a practical concern, not just a preference.
Quality is very important because the utensils are probably the most perishable items, as they come under quite high stress. It's important that the quality is good, again in relation to the price. But I’ve never been failed by Cooksmill.
That balance of quality and value is something well understood across the trade. When it comes to stainless steel utensils in particular, Shehzad is direct about where the industry looks:
"Everybody in the fish and chips trade knows that if somebody wants something cost-effective, you bypass your traditional wholesaler who offers expensive products, and you go to Cooksmill."
For a business where margins matter and equipment needs to last, that reputation carries real weight.
Availability and Reliability When It Counts
When service is underway, waiting on supplies is not an option. A busy lunchtime or Friday evening service does not pause because something has run out or an order is delayed. For Shehzad, three things matter in a catering supplier.
You're looking for response time, availability of gear, and value for money.
Cooksmill ensures orders arrive promptly, and the team is accessible when needed. At Cooksmill, we work hard to ensure the products our customers rely on are in stock and ready to go, because we understand that in a working kitchen, delays cost more than money. Shehzad explains:
The experience has always been excellent. With the quality of the product, you get what you pay for. I never feel like I'm getting something inferior.
What's Next for Briggs, Wallis and Benn
The shop is relocating to a larger site on Great Horton Road, with a seating area and parking. It is a significant step for a business that has spent years building its reputation from a compact kitchen. More space also means a better experience for customers who want to sit and eat, and greater visibility in a busier part of the city.
For a business that has spent years building its reputation on consistency and care, it is a chance to serve more of Bradford without changing what makes it worth visiting. The food will be the same. The standards will be the same. So will the suppliers.
Cooksmill and Briggs, Wallis and Benn
Briggs, Wallis and Benn reflects how independent food businesses depend on suppliers who understand the demands of their trade. In a chip shop, equipment needs to perform under pressure every day. Availability, value, and reliability matter as much as the quality of the products themselves. For Shehzad and his family, that relationship with Cooksmill spans four decades and multiple businesses, and continues to play a direct role in how they maintain their standards.
