Britain’s fish and chip shops are facing a severe squeeze from soaring fish prices, labour costs, VAT pressures, reduced quotas and changing customer habits. The closure of the Plaice Station in Cheshire after 19 years illustrates the problem, with its owner saying rising expenses had effectively destroyed profit margins; the wider decline threatens a long-standing British staple and many small businesses.

The National Federation of Fish Friers found that 47% of shop owners were extremely worried about their future, while 20% expected to leave the trade within a year. Britain now has around 7,000-8,000 chippies, compared with 25,000 in the 1930s, and takeaway prices have risen more than 60% in five years to an average of £11.43, with falling cod quotas adding further pressure.