Half of our fish and chip shops may face extinction if the government goes ahead with its controversial tax rise, an expert has warned. Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers, is ringing alarm bells now in the hope that the government will listen to his pleas.
He wants the Treasury to stop its plan to hike VAT by 7.5%, because “it is going to put a lot of businesses under”. It is feared some chippies may stop selling fish altogether and pivot to other foods such as burgers and kebabs.
Mr Crook estimates 3,000 chippies could be forced to close by 2027. Mr Crook who also owns Skippers of Euxton in Lancashire, said customers pay £5.60 for a cod that costs him £4.
