A popular fish and chip chain is still ‘coming soon’ to Worcester - three months after signage announcing its arrival first appeared.

A large sign saying ‘Mother Hubbard’s Famous Fish and Chips is coming soon’ appeared on the old Pizza Hut on Shrub Hill Retail Park at the start of February.

But almost three months on, Mother Hubbard’s has not announced an opening date nor given any other details about the new branch.

Workers have been inside the building this week but a list of ‘branches coming soon’ on the Mother Hubbard’s website doesn’t mention Worcester.

The takeaway chain already has branches in Batley, Keighley, Oldham, Huddersfield, Leeds, Halifax, Wakefield, Blackburn, Leicester and three in Bradford.

And it is expanding quickly, with plans to open new restaurants in Coventry, Sheffield, Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Derby, Middlesbrough, London and Dubai.

Worcester News: A Pizza Hut used to occupy the building on Shrub Hill Retail ParkA Pizza Hut used to occupy the building on Shrub Hill Retail Park

The restaurant's website says the first Mother Hubbard’s, in Ingleby Road, Bradford, was opened on May 3, 1972 by Coronation Street favourites Stan and Hilda Ogden.

“At that time, fish and chips were served at just 45p per portion,” the website says. “We have a modern feel but still with the traditional taste to take you back to your childhood memories.

“At Mother Hubbard’s we are passionate about great tasting food. We only use the finest Icelandic haddock and British potatoes to produce the crispiest battered fresh fish and golden chips.”

We reported in September 2020 how the Worcester branch of Pizza Hut was due to close after the chain named the 29 restaurants it will shut for good as part of a major restructuring.

The announcement came days after rival Pizza Express approved the closure of 73 of its own sites, hitting 1,100 workers.

In October 2021, five Worcestershire chippies were named in the National Federation of Fish Friers’ (NFFF) Official Guide to the UK’s Quality Fish and Chip Shops 2021.

The guide tells people where to find takeaways that have received the NFFF Quality Accreditation.

Two Bewdley chippies - Catchems End Fish Bar and Merchants of Bewdley - were named in the guide along with Newlands Fish Bar in Pershore. Golden Carp Chippy and Winyates Chippy in Redditch also made the guide.