A holidaying couple has vowed never to visit a popular seaside town again after they were served a "shameful" portion of fish and chips that measured just four inches long - and cost them £15.
Mike Turner, 57, and his wife Jane, 53, had just completed a six-mile walk in Salcombe, Devon, when they popped into Captain Morgan's cafe with the intention of getting something to eat for their lunch.
They had initially wanted to get a sandwich each, but when they realised they were £8 each, they decided instead to get one portion of fish and chips to share between the two of them, as well as two cans of fizzy pop, for a total of £15.
However, when the waiter brought their food over 10 minutes later, he had to apologise for the size of fish they'd been given, and told the couple they'd been dished up "extra chips" to compensate.
Mike and Jane were left in shock when they looked down at the "tiny piece of fish", and have now said their experience with Captain Morgan's has "tarnished" their opinion of Salcombe - and they'll now never visit again.
Mike, from Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, said: "It wasn't your normal chip shop, it was by a car park. We'd been walking six miles and were super hot, hungry and exhausted.
"We were going to grab a sandwich but it was £8 each and to me, that's [not acceptable] and I refused to pay it so we said we'd share fish and chips.
"About 10 mins later, the waiter came out and said he was sorry but the fish was a bit small but they'd put a few extra chips on the plate instead. We look down at the portion of fish and chips and we were shocked, especially for the price. It wasn't cheap. It was a tiny piece of fish. We put a tomato sauce sachet next to it and it was about that size.
"You look back and think you should take it back and say it's ridiculous but we were so tired and didn't have the energy. We just needed something to eat. We didn't want that confrontation, I can be a little opinionated, I would have said what I thought. Rather than extra chips, they should have given us two small pieces of fish and the chips weren't potato peeled, they were frozen."
The couple had been celebrating their 32nd wedding anniversary at the time of their visit, but said they left Salcombe with a "sour taste" in their mouths.
Mike explained: "It left a sour taste in our mouths because we'd had some lovely meals all weekend. It overshadowed it, we won't go to Salcombe again. It tarnished it. They charge whatever they like hoping that the majority of people will pay it."
After posting a review for Captain Morgan's on a local Facebook group, Mike was inundated with comments from people agreeing that the price was a "rip off", as one described it as "shameful".
But some argued that the couple weren't forced to buy the meal, and said it was "inevitable" that prices at local businesses would need to rise amid the ongoing cost of living crisis as bills skyrocket.
Mike, however, said he put the message out on Facebook to warn other walkers, adding: "I posted it on a local Facebook group where people make recommendations. We felt people needed to know. Around 90% said it's terrible, a few said that's what you get in this day and age but it needs to be highlighted.
"I'm a big believer that petrol prices are too high and people are profiteering left right and centre. In the winter these businesses make their money out of people who walk."
Captain Morgan's was contacted for comment but did not respond.
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