Fish and chips in a cafe

[CeciliaMars]

We went to a cafe attached to a fish and chip shop today - basically a chippy that had a few tables. We had two adult cod and chips, 2 kids’ sausage and chips, 2 mushy peas and 3 small bottles of water. £66!!!! I feel like the world has gone mad.

I think the chips look lovely! I love chunky chips with a proper thick coating, and all soft and delicious inside.

That’s not expensive for the south coast. Also, the business wasn’t what some may call a “low end” chippy, was it?

It’s £10 for fish and chips on average here in my city in the northwest which seems right considering location and current overheads.

How?
By your reckoning if OPs adult portions were the same as yours that would only add up to £36
So you think another £30 on 2 kids portions, 2 mushy peas and some bottles of water are cheap?

It used to be that restaurants were more expensive than takeaways but that's not really the case now - and I don't think it's ever been in placed like the op describes- essentially a chippy with some tables - I'd expect the eat in price to be the same as the takeaway one

I'd expect the eat in price to be the same as the takeaway one

Why? Eating in has extra costs for the business. It’s always been the case you get charged more to eat in instead of taking away, generally.

It's £13 for a large cod and £5 for large chips in the best fish and chips shop near us.
Two large cod and two large chips (£36) does between four of us (plenty chips but not a lot of cod).

It's not fair to compare with wetherspoons as the fish there won't be cod and while wetherspoons is fine, it won't taste as good as a really good fish and chips shop.

It is a very expensive treat now and overall probably more expensive than a curry takeaway which for us costs almost £60 but lasts 2/3 nights whereas the fish and chips is gone in one sitting.

@latetothefisting

I'd expect the eat in price to be the same as the takeaway one

So none of the following cost anything then?

Additional rent on larger premises to accommodate tables and chairs
The purchase and repairs of tables and chairs
Staff to serve and clean up afterwards
The purchase and replacement of crockery and cutlery
Heating and lighting a larger area
Higher business rates because of the larger area
Higher water consumption due to needing to clean a larger area
Higher insurance to cover additional risks of eating on the premises

£20 here for cod, chips & mushy peas for an adult.

& @Badbadbunny

Obviously on average most restaurants will be more expensive than most takeaways but in pretty much every indian/chinese restaurants, cafes, ice cream parlours, etc that do both that I've been to in the last few years, (i.e. not comparing the Ivy to the local kebab house) the prices are exactly the same. I think it's since covid when restaurants couldn't open so offered their same menu but to takeaway - they saw people were willing to pay it, so every time they've increased the restaurant prices to cover all the additional costs they've done the same for their takeaway ones.

Plus, as I also said, a chippy with a few plastic tables isn't the same as a restaurant.

Wow. We have a weekly takeaway at work and I always order a fish box special. It is £6.99 for fish chips and peas. It is a huge portion too, I often have chips left over.

I havn't eaten in for a while but I looked up one nearby place and it is about £12 for fish chips and peas.

Because you’re paying the ‘tourist tax’
I live in the SW and anywhere within 5 miles of the coast is more expensive…

Rent, business rates, staff salaries plus the cost of the actual ingredients and commodities such as foil, takeaway containers, sauces etc) are all much more expensive in the South and South West (the latter is where I am). Everything to the best of my knowledge is cheaper in the North.

I live in a seaside town in the south west. We also went for fish and chips and were shocked at the cost. Pensioner special not available so I had to have a full portion I can't eat. Known locally as rip off the visitors as everything is more expensive between Easter and September, even parking.

£25 for 2 x fish, chips and mushy peas from a chip van in the Midlands yesterday. Was very nice though!

£7 for fish and chips at the Port Erin Chippy, Isle of Man. Eat in, out, or local delivery. 🇮🇲

Decent tub of mushy peas £1.20. Battered sausage £1.25.

£44.90 for the same order in a cafe with a sea view on the south coast. Still a “u wot mate?” total when your brain is forever stuck on 1990s prices, but better than the OP.

For us we’ve found it’s being a family of four that really breaks the bank on meals. Two adults plus one kid always felt affordable; two and two tips it from under £40 to nearly £50, not a huge difference but psychologically it’s like, how much?!

Went for fish and chips in Blackpool as part of a day out in the last few months and a full sit down fish and chips with mushy peas, plus drinks, for 3 adults, was just short of £50. We enjoyed it!

Eating out will be a thing of the past in 10 years

We were in Looe in cornwall last week and paid £41 for takeaway 2 regular fish and chips, a chicken burger (DS shared my chips), a peas, curry sauce and 2 bottles of drink

It was really good, the fish in particular was delicious.

My local chippy

our Local has an inclusive menu just gone up to 15.99 Large cod and chips mushy peas or curry sauce.Bread and butter , pot of tea.Village in Cornwall.Great service and very fresh fish from Cornwall.

£20 per person at our fish and chip takeaway.

London/Kent borders. 🤷‍♀️

Ooh, just picturing the chips melting the butter on the bread, with the right smidgen of curry sauce and scalding hot tea!