The owner of a popular village chippy says she is overwhelmed by the outpouring of affection after she announced she was quitting after nearly 23 years. Niki Papachristodoulou is leaving Burton Joyce Fish due to a combination of professional and personal reasons.
She will serve her last customers at the chippy, in Main Road, this weekend. The 49-year-old said the crisis the industry is facing has taken its toll.
Niki said: "During Covid was very, very stressful. That's when it started to become less enjoyable. You talk to any fish and chip owner at the moment and they are all beside themselves with stress. It's such a shame. We'll have no small independent businesses left if the government doesn't help us out somehow."
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She added: "The rising costs of everything has gone crazy. Fish and chip shops are struggling big time. They are going to be a dying business. Last year was absolutely horrendous.
"The price of fish due to the Russian/Ukraine war, the price of oil, packaging and the cost of gas and electric, all of those things combined have been a nightmare since we came out of Covid and Brexit. It has been so hard to keep our heads above water."
Niki will spend her time looking after her ill mother, who was widowed a year ago. She lives just minutes from the chip shop and said she will be popping back for a takeaway.
The new proprietor is the current manager Pascalis Tsangaris, who is sub-leasing the shop. He knows he's facing an uphill battle. Niki said: "He is aware of all of this. I am doing everything I can do support him as in keeping the gas and electric under the current contract so that he's not going to get a massive hike in a new contract.
"I will do everything I can to make it work for him. He will have to do a price increase and it's a case of shopping around for everything. The advantage of the manager taking over, that's a huge chunk of wages that I normally pay. He won't have that huge wage bill to pay."
Until the recent struggles Niki said it had been an enjoyable way to earn a living, especially in a village location. "Everyone in Burton Joyce is lovely and I love it here.
"I'm hoping I won't have to move as well as giving up the business. It’s been an incredible journey of almost 23 years in total. I have met some wonderful people along the way that I would call friends not just customers. I am overwhelmed with all the messages, I can't believe it. I'm quite teary about it."
Locals said how much they would miss her in response to her leaving announcement on Facebook. One said: "The best fish and chips and halloumi kebabs ever. We will miss your friendly smile. We will definitely have a chippy tea this weekend."
Another commented: "Will miss you Niki and your wonderful fish and chips. We will continue to support the new owner."
In January 2020 the chippy made the news when Niki turned back the clock to celebrate its 20th anniversary by rolling prices back to the time it first opened. Fish and chips were reduced to £3.30, while a kebab set customers back £2.80.
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