Ayrshire's Wee Fish van adds Rivergate Shopping Centre stop

However, it won't be inside the mall itself that benefits as an award winning Ayrshire business makes its way into town.

Tomorrow, Friday March 10, will see Ayrshire's Wee Fish Van stop at the Rivergate for the first time.

Owned by former air stewardess Bernadette MacKenzie, the Wee Fish Van was crowned 'Micro Business of the Year' at the 2022 Scottish Women's Awards.

Bernadette picking up her award last year (left) and (right) next to her iconic van. (Image: Ayrshire's Wee Fish Van)

Bernadette herself will be bringing her iconic van, stocked up with fresh fish and seafood, to the mall from 10am tomorrow morning.

She will remain in her spot, parked outside the Auld Brig JD Wetherspoon pub/Asda, until 3pm - with this residency to remain in place every week for the forseeable future.

Bernadette explained: "I have great pleasure in announcing RiverGate Shopping Center have approached me and offered me a secured parking space outside The Auld Brig.

"I'm excited to say I have accepted the offer and will be parked there every Friday from 10am till 3pm."

And not to worry, for those in Irvine who usually use the Wee Fish Van - Bernadette's colleague Iain will still be going round the usual Irvine stops as well!

For those unfamiliar with the business, Bernadette is now more than two years on from when she took her voluntary redundancy from BA after 22 years in the skies as a long haul air stewardess.

Lockdown was in full force, and unfortunately the job she once had seemed such a long way off.

Though from here, Ayrshire's Wee Fish Van was born - thanks in part to her now husband Douglas MacKenzie, who is a trawlerman on fishing boats.

She bought her iconic van with her redundancy money, and now she can't imagine going back.

For all the latest on Ayrshire's Wee Fish Van, including details of stopping places and times, visit their Facebook page: facebook.com/Ayrshiresweefishvan.