Paolo Nutini's dad retires from Paisley chippy Castelvecchi after 53 years

Daily Record

08-05-2025

Freddie has worked in Castelvecchi since he left school.
Paolo Nutini 's dad is retiring from iconic Paisley chip shop Castelvecchi which has been in the family for decades. Alfredo, who is affectionately known as Freddie, started there when he left school.
The chip shop has been in the same location since 1914, and it was Freddie's grandparents who turned the venue into a that use after it was originally opened as an ice parlour. BBC journalist Billy Sloan took to Instagram to say he sat down for a bite to eat with the Candy singer at his family's chip shop and revealed that he was the last person to be served a meal from Freddie.
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Alongside a snap of them, Billy penned: "LAST night I was invited out to dinner by @paolonutini … but it was a dinner with a difference.
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"I was honoured to be served the final fish supper by the singer's father Alfredo in Castelvecchi … the famous family chippie in Paisley. After 53 faithful years at his fish fryer he's retiring and is finally taking a well earned rest to spend more time with his lovely wife, Linda.
"Castelvecchi takes its name from Alfredo's Italian grandfather. It started as a single storey shop - with a THATCHED roof - in 1914 and has been run by the family for a staggering 111 years. But the place is NOT closing down. Alfredo is handing the chip basket over to a colleague and it will be business as usual. The old fashioned style chippie is brilliant. It's no surprise that the beautiful interior has been used for several movies and TV dramas over the years. And what was on the menu?"
He added: "Paolo tucked into haddock 'n' chips … with a side of a single hamburger and a dish of curry sauce for dipping. While I also demolished a haddock supper - plus a few pickled onions - with a deep fried black pudding chaser. Paolo looked like he hadn't gained an ounce in weight … but I had to loosen my belt a wee notch. My plan to have a quick kebab on the way up the road was swiftly abandoned. I couldn't even have eaten an After Eight mint. I was stuffed.
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"The diet definitely starts tomorrow. My thanks to Paolo and the Nutini clan for a brilliant night. And it was great to be part of a wee bit of Paisley history. Check out Castelvecchi - at No. 10 New Street - it's dynamite!"
Earlier this year, Freddie took part in a short film which seeks to highlight the shop's connection to the local community over its 100-year history.
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Made by aspiring filmmaker Fiona Stuart, the four-minute short story showcases a character who has attracted customers from across Renfrewshire to his fish and chip shop for decades.
Speaking in the film, Freddie says he was worked hard to retain the charm of the eatery, and while many people now order online, he still knows the orders of his regulars by heart.
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He said: 'Young ones now all want Just Eat. They all want it delivered. Whereas [ordering online], you are losing your customers and you don't know who they are.
'You are just pressing a button. But in the old days, people would come in, you would get to know them and they became friends. They became part of life.'
Freddie admitted that there is not many places like his left.
And that is what inspired Fiona, a filmmaker from London, to share Freddie's story with the world.
Fiona filmed the documentary as part of the Step Up to Shooting AP training programme, which looks to give people breaking into the industry the skills and experience needed.
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