Jolly Fryer first opened its doors on April 24, 1986, founded by Stamatis and Kay Lomvardos along with their sons Nick and Andreas. The family worked together to build the business for 24 years, later joined by their third brother Spyros. Situated in the northern part of Bristol, the shop quickly gained popularity, offering a variety of delectable options including freshly cut fish, homemade kebabs, Greek moussaka, Greek salad, substantial omelettes, and the renowned Scooby Burger.

In the year 2000, Stamatis and Kay retired, passing the torch to their three sons who continued the legacy. In 2010, Nick embarked on his own venture, establishing the acclaimed Bishopston Fish Bar on Gloucester Road in Horfield. The Bishopston Fish Bar garnered a string of awards, totaling almost 20 since its inception, ranging from being among the Top 5 in the UK to maintaining a Top 20 status for six consecutive years.

Tragedy struck in May 2017 when Stamatis passed away, leaving the family devastated. As Nick managed the Bishopston Fish Bar, his siblings felt that the essence of the original "Jolly Fryer" had departed with their father, leading them to make the challenging decision to sell the shop. After a series of setbacks, the shop eventually closed its doors, and the brothers went their separate ways.

Meanwhile, Nick couldn't bear to see the shop transformed into student flats. In September 2018, he revitalized the establishment with a fresh name, "Ocean Catch." Nick valiantly balanced between the two shops, but the task of single-handedly managing both became arduous. The arrival of COVID-19 in March 2020 brought about significant changes. Amidst financial troubles and his mother's cancer diagnosis in Athens, Greece, Nick took a 14-month hiatus to care for his mother.

During this time, Nick's friend Jason Ford effectively ran Ocean Catch, while Nick's return saw him laboring to honor the customers' desire to reinstate the original name, "Jolly Fryer." In the past year, Nick successfully transitioned the name back and transferred his award-winning recipes and offerings from Bishopston to the Jolly Fryer, which consequently earned its first award at the beginning of this year.

Currently, Nick splits his time between the two establishments, eagerly anticipating the continuation of Jolly Fryer's legacy by serving both loyal and new patrons alike.