Cost of living: Third of British fish and chip shops ‘will close’ due to soaring costs, owners warn

Chippies across the UK have shed light on the struggles they are facing amid soaring costs - with fears up to a third of shops will close. The average price of the beloved takeaway shot up to £9 in the last year as ingredients become more expensive, according to official stats.

And while chip shop owners are desperate to keep their prices down so they aren’t scaring off customers, some say they have no choice. Andrew Crook owns Skippers of Euxton in Chorley, Lancashire and is also the chairman of the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF).

He fears at least a third of shops will go over the next five years. Andrew, 47, said: “In the smaller shops it is very difficult to make a profit and there are a lot of shops up for sale at the moment.

“Many of my members just feel completely ignored and disenfranchised. My profits are non-existent. I’m losing money and working for free at the moment. There are not many shops that are making profit. It is very difficult.

“Since March last year I’ve gone from £7.25 for fish and chips to £9.50. I’ve not put them up as much as I need to cover my cost increases. Potatoes are usually £8 a sack and will probably be £30 next week and I think they’ll reach £40 this year.

“Palm oil and beef dripping were £14 for 12.5kg and they’ve gone to £24 or £25. Sunflower oil was around £20 for 20 litres and is now at £43; and cod went from about £150 or £160 for 18kg to as high as £250.”

Food inflation, energy and fuel costs, as well as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, had driven up the cost of ingredients and the power to cook them, chippies say. Amadeu Catanho, 54, who has owned Crispy Cod Fish Bar in Lockleaze, Bristol since 2005, is another owner worried about having to close.

He said: “You never know what will happen to the prices. The oil has doubled, the gas and electric has more than doubled and fish and everything else is following them.