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This is not a drill: fish and chip shops could ‘face extinction’
By Joanna Sarah-Freedman
24 Aug 2022
2m
Fish and chip shops could be risking ‘extinction’, an expert has revealed.
Chippy owners are worried that the cost of living crisis is stopping people spending money, and also making it far too expensive to run their restaurants.
The BBC is reporting that the National Federation of Fish Friers is now calling for the government to help them with energy bills, whilst also cutting VAT so they can stay open.
They’re said to be having a meeting with ministers on Thursday to push how desperate they are for help.
Chippies are struggling to stay afloat (Credit: Alamy)
Craig Williams, from Sand Bay Fish and Chip Shop near Weston-super-Mare, told the Beeb the situation is currently “worse” than it was during the pandemic.
“People were coming in to spend their money [when] they were furloughed,” he said.
“People had money in their pockets, people are penny-pinching now. So fish and chips might not be top of their priority list on a Friday night.”
Meanwhile, Jason Ford, of Bishopston Fish Bar on Gloucester Road in Bristol, said he’s had to rise prices three times this year, to make up fo the fact that business has dropped by about 30 percent.
Your chippy tea could be at risk (Credit: Alamy)
National Federation of Fish Friers President, Andrew Crook, said that 66 percent of shops had been forced to reduce opening hours in order to save cash.
“Unfortunately this is potentially an extinction event for small businesses. It’s like nothing we’ve ever seen before,” he said.
A government spokesman said: “We are working closely with industry to mitigate the impact our sanctions against Russia may have on British businesses, including through the creation of the £100m UK Seafood Fund.
“We’re already supporting businesses of all sizes by slashing fuel duty, introducing a 50% business rates relief for eligible high street businesses and put the brakes on bill increases by freezing the business rates multiplier – worth £4.6 billion over the next five years.”
Could this be the end of the chippy? Let’s all cross our fingers that they make it through…
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