New Longridge business introduces The Mighty Joel burger in memory of a much loved son

When a new fast food business opens in Longridge later this month it will be a labour of love.
David and Andrea outside their new business Roast & DeliDavid and Andrea outside their new business Roast & Deli
David and Andrea outside their new business Roast & Deli

For prime place on the menu at "Roast & Deli" will be a tribute dish to local schoolboy Joel Shaw.

Joel, who died from a rare cancer in February at the age of 11, was one of the biggest supporters of the new business planned by his dad David and partner Andrea Rowson.

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David from Grimsargh recalled how the Longridge High School pupil had been eagerly looking forward to the opening of the business on Towneley Parade, Berry Lane.

David Shaw getting ready to open the new takeaway business Roast & Deli in LongridgeDavid Shaw getting ready to open the new takeaway business Roast & Deli in Longridge
David Shaw getting ready to open the new takeaway business Roast & Deli in Longridge

He said: "Joel absolutely loved it...He imagined he could get his X-box and settee (upstairs) and get his mates round and have chicken strips and chips on tap! He was very excited about it. We've talked about it and decided to call our all singing, dancing chicken burger The Mighty Joel Burger. We just think it's quite fitting to name the chicken burger, chicken fillet with lots of bacon and cheese on top, The Mighty Joel Burger ... he was into his Southern fried chicken."

Also helping in the business and organising a countdown on social media until the opening on September 17, will be Joel's older brother and sister Jake and Jas (Jasmine) and Andrea's daughter Lauren. Lauren will help out for the first few weeks until she resumes her midwifery studies at university and Jake and Jas will help at weekends.

It is a complete career change for David and Andrea. David has spent the last 24 years running Ribchester based business Unique Enamelling Services which re-enamelled cast iron baths. He said: "One of my customers is going to be taking the bath business over and is relocating it down to Wiltshire."

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Roast and Deli will be open six days a week, Monday to Saturday. He said: "We are doing predominantly rotisserie chicken and we'll be doing some deli items too. There will be our home made southern fried chicken strips made with our blend of spices and marinated in buttermilk. It's all 100 per cent British chicken and we're using local suppliers whenever possible."

Keen footballer Joel Shaw pictured meeting PNE footballers at the Royal Preston HospitalKeen footballer Joel Shaw pictured meeting PNE footballers at the Royal Preston Hospital
Keen footballer Joel Shaw pictured meeting PNE footballers at the Royal Preston Hospital

David's wife Julie died six and a half years ago and he said : "Certainly after Julie passed away I was at home a lot more and tended to cook a lot more ... I've always been a bit of a foodie really."

He put a deposit down on the shop last August and signed the lease in November but when Joel, who had Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, relapsed in November plans went on hold and were further delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

David said: "It's been a long time coming. We're still obviously grieving and still have bad days. You could say the shop has been quite a distraction. We need to focus and look ahead, but obviously Joel is very much in our thoughts, hence The Mighty Joel Burger. We'll never ever forget him. It's been tough. We have better days and then we have days when we've just got to think we have to see this through, because he would have wanted that."

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Plans and work were paused as David and Andrea helped care for Joel, who died at Derian House Children's hospice with them both by his side holding his hands.

Andrea who was a support worker for adults with learning disabilities for some ten years before managing a pub, said: "It has given us all a new focus - the kids as well. I really enjoy cooking - I've always been a home cook. It's given us something positive to focus on and work towards. It's just going to be a different challenge for us all. It's just exciting everybody as something new and doing it together. "

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