The Story

Over 100 years ago at the turn of the last century, people were looking for new opportunities moving across the Atlantic to the Americas. Finland was no exception and between 1870 and 1929 about 350 000 Finns tried their luck in the new world. Hanko was the main port for the emigration, due to its ice free winters, with over 250 000 people leaving the country through the town’s harbour.

The Finnish Steamboat company F.Å.A operated two steamboats, s/s Urania and  s/s Astraea. The Steamboats transported people from Hanko to Hull in England. s/s Astraea could carry 22 passengers in 1st class, 34 in 2nd and 186 in 3rd class. The trip to Hull took 4 to 5 days and then the travelers took the train over to Liverpool or Southampton and caught the next ship over the ocean and onto new adventures.

When the steamboat left the dock of Hanko, the last things the emigrants saw were the Lighthouse of Russarö (1863) and the Hanko church (1892). In the early 20th century they could also see the Lighthouse of Bengtskär (1906) and the original Hanko water tower (1910), the first of its kind in Finland.

Today we are bringing back a piece of British food culture to the home port of Finnish emigrants,  introducing traditional Fish & Chips to Hanko. Finns love their potato and fish and what’s better than frying them both, topped with some creamy mushy peas and delicious tartar sauce. You can grab your meal to go, wrapped in newspaper, or enjoy it together with an authentic, relaxed atmosphere outside our food truck in Hanko Eastern Harbour. 

We hope you enjoy the ride.