An industry body has warned this week that many of Britain’s fish and chip shops are facing possible “extinction” due to increasing costs.
With the rising cost of living crisis continuing to make its impact felt on a wide range of businesses nationwide, the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) is now urging the government to cut VAT to help chippies with their soaring energy bills, as well as the price of cod and sunflower – which has left them struggling, the BBC reports.
NFFF President Andrew Crook revealed that about 66% of fish and chip shops had also reduced their opening hours in a bid to save money.
This has resulted in a fall of staffing levels to four people per shop.
The NFFF said it had secured a meeting with government ministers this week to further push its message that the industry needs a helping hand, and admitted that current situation is like “nothing we’ve ever seen before.”
ADVERTISEMENT
“Unfortunately this is potentially an extinction event for small businesses,” Andrew Crook added.
A government spokesperson said in response that it’s supporting businesses “of all sizes by slashing fuel duty”, and will be introducing a 50% business rates relief.
ADVERTISEMENT
Britain’s chippies are facing ‘extinction’ amid rising cost of living crisis / Credit: Gilly (via Unsplash)
“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 £100 million UK Seafood Fund,” the government spokesperson added.
“We’re already supporting businesses of all sizes by slashing fuel duty, introducing a 50% business rates relief for eligible high street businesses and putting the brakes on bill increases by freezing the business rates multiplier, which is worth £4.6 billion over the next five years.”
In a bid aiming to help both customers and chippies grappling with tightened household budgets, the UK’s number one vinegar brand Sarson’s has pledged to reimburse hundreds of fish and chip meals this summer as part of its #SarsonsFryday campaign – which launched at the start of the month, and has been running right throughout August.
The brand has been dishing out 100 free chippy teas every Friday.
Sarson’s says it hopes to “renew the nation’s love for fish and chip shops” with the campaign, all while promoting a sense of community spirit in supporting them.
Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
You can now have a private sleepover amongst all the history inside Manchester Museum
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Museum is now offering one lucky family the chance to have a sleepover with Stan the Tyrannosaurus rex.
For the first time in Manchester Museum’s history, one lucky family will be given the chance to experience an incredible night at the museum.
This unique opportunity is being offered as part of a prize draw, allowing visitors to find out what happens once the sun goes down inside the Fossils and Dinosaurs gallery – in the company of Stan, the famous Tyrannosaurus rex, of course.
The Fossils and Dinosaurs gallery is one of the most iconic spaces within Manchester Museum.
Having opened to the public all the way back in 1888, it’s part of the museum’s original building designed by celebrated Alfred Waterhouse, who also designed Manchester Town Hall and London’s Natural History Museum.
Not only will the lucky winning family enjoy an overnight stay in the gallery, but they’ll also be treated to a guided torchlight tour of the galleries after the Museum has closed, as well as other fun activities and a film screening too before bed.
You can now have a private sleepover inside Manchester Museum / Credit: The Manc Group
“We can’t be completely sure what happens when the sun goes down in our Fossils and Dinosaurs gallery, because nobody has ever spent the night in there before, but we can only imagine the kind of fun that can be had with Stan the T. rex and his friends,” said Dean Whiteside, Head of Commercial and Operations at Manchester Museum.
“This is a chance to be a part of museum history and enjoy the kind of once-in-a-lifetime experience you can’t usually buy.
“At the same time, Manchester Museum is a charity so, by getting behind this initiative, you’ll be helping to support vital work that impacts the lives of people across Greater Manchester and beyond.”
Fancy it then? You can enter the prize draw by buying a ticket for £5 from the Manchester Museum Shop, with each ticket counting as one entry and the winner set to be chosen at random from all valid entries.
The prize draw is now open and closes on Monday 28 September 2026.
Emily Sergeant -
26th August 2022 
