Fish and chip shops battered by cost of living crisis

A fish supper will now set you back £9.88, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This is up 52pc in the five years to July, from £6.48 in 2019. 

The British staple has seen the biggest price increase among the UK’s most popular takeaways.

By comparison, the ONS figures show the cost of a kebab went up 44pc, pizza 30pc and an Indian or Chinese main course just 29pc.

The average price of fish and chips is now nearly £10 (Image: Matthew Usher)

So, why has the price of a traditionally affordable treat gone through the roof?

The region’s chip shop owners say that multiple rising costs have forced them to hike up their prices.

These include soaring energy bills, tariffs on imports of Russian fish due to the war in Ukraine, and poor potato harvests across the UK and Europe which have seen spud prices surge. 

“Our gas and electricity bills tripled overnight,” said Michael Etheridge, who has worked behind the counter at Barrons Fish Bar in Costessey for 27 years.

“We’re also paying 30pc to 40pc more for our fish and £25 for a bag of potatoes. Before we would pay anything between £8 and £12.”

Michael Etheridge, co-owner of Barrons Fish Bar, in Costessey (Image: Newsquest)

In March 2022, the government announced a 35pc tariff on Russian seafood imports in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

Rising potato prices have also added to fish and chip shops' costs. This has been caused by poor harvests due to extreme weather in recent years, including a small crop last year. 

Mr Etheridge said although he has not seen a drop in customers at his city chippy, more people are opting for cheaper items on the menu instead of shelling out on fish.  

“A lot of people can’t afford fish so they’re turning to cheaper things like sausages, fish cakes and burgers,” he said.

“That’s one advantage of a fish and chip shop - if people want to buy cheaper items they can, but if they want a bit more of a treat they can have a piece of fish.”

Barrons Fish Bar in Norwich Road, Costessey (Image: Newsquest) 

Rav Phagura, owner of Nacton Road Fish Bar in Ipswich, currently charges £9.30 for a regular cod and chips.

Although he is reluctant to charge customers more, his hand may soon be forced after his supplier upped its prices for the third time this year. 

"We're trying to keep our prices as low as possible, but I hope our customers understand why it keeps going up," he said.

"We're only passing on the cost which is being put up across the board for us. It's out of our control." 

Rav Phagura, owner of Nacton Road Fish Bar in Ipswich (Image: Newsquest)

WHAT OFGEM SAY

Fish and chip shop owners say the UK's energy regulator Ofgem has failed to protect small businesses against high energy bills.

A spokesperson for the regulator told the BBC: "We know high energy bills continue to be a challenge for many businesses.

"We are working closely with government and industry to understand the range of issues non-domestic customers face, and where the powers we have to tackle them could be stronger."