Fish and chip shops plea for change amid high supply costs

Chippies in Bournemouth said they continue to face spiralling supply costs and energy bills with the war in Ukraine and Brexit to blame. 

Paul Akcam, the owner of Barnacles in Wimborne Road, Moordown, has had his shop for more than five years but has seen some monthly bills rise by more than £1,000.

He said: “We need people to come and support local chippies because it is going bad in energy costs and supplies. We try not to put the price up too much, but we need support from people. 

Barnacles chippy in Wimborne Road (Image: Daily Echo)

“Last year, for my gas bill, I paid between £400-500 a month, but the bill last month was £1,500 and electric has gone up 50 per cent.

Read more: Wild Fish and Chips closes in Bournemouth town centre

“There are a lot of shops and restaurants which used to be busy closing down. There used to be a problem with the war when that started in Ukraine and it increased the prices of oil.” 

Paul added that since Brexit, fish prices have gone up, but he can’t put his prices up in line with suppliers as people will stop eating out. 

Paul Akcam (Image: Daily Echo)

“We now make less profits and put more money into the business,” he added. “People’s spending habits have changed too; it isn’t like what it used to be when people would eat out for lunch. 

“This is getting difficult for everybody now.” 

Recent data from the Office for National Statistics shows the average cost of a takeaway fish and chips has jumped by 19 per cent to £9. 

Tina's Fish and Chips, Palmerston Road (Image: Daily Echo)

Andy Thomas, co-owner of Tina’s Fish and Chips in Palmerston Road, said his aim was to at least get through the summer, and that if people supported their local chippie with even one purchase a month, it could just be the difference. 

He said: “Energy prices, oil prices, fish prices, everything has yet to come down. All we ask is that people support their local businesses, whether it be shops, restaurants or chippies.

Read more: Bournemouth and Poole fish and chips shops on energy bills

“The situation is getting worse because of the economy and people just aren’t spending. You can go to any takeaway or restaurant and ask what their footfall is and they will all say it is worse compared with last year. 

Andy Thomas, co-owner of Tina's Fish and Chips in Boscombe (Image: Daily Echo)

“We haven’t put our prices up in relation to what the cost of supplies is. For example, oil is selling at £30 for a bottle of oil whereas pre-Covid it was half that. 

“If the locals want their takeaways, they need to come and support us through tough times, even if it is buying something once a month. 

“The government has said these prices will be the same for the next three or four years – it isn’t sustainable.”