Figures first reported by the BBC show that the price of a typical portion of fish and chips was £9.88 in July 2024, up from £6.48 in July 2019, reflecting an increase of 52%.
While the ONS says the figures are estimates, it suggests the cost of a fish supper has gone up more in percentage terms than that for pizza, which has risen by 30% from £8.06 to £10.48 in the same timeframe; or an Indian or Chinese main course, which both recorded a 29% increase.
It come after the National Federation of Fish Friers warned last year that scores of fish and chip shops could close because of rapidly climbing costs.
Soaring energy bills, tariffs on Russian seafood imports, and extreme weather hammering potato harvests were cited by business owners as reasons for the rise in prices.
Jon Long, who runs Long John’s Fish and Chips in Dorset, told the BBC: “We’ve had the perfect storm of events in terms of cost pressures.
“It’s not a cheap meal anymore. I think it’s still good value, but it has become more expensive.”
After fish and chips, the UK takeaway to see the highest price rise in the last five years was the kebab, which went up 44% to £7.57 from £5.24.
This was followed by fried chicken and chips, which rose from £4.73 to £6.70, an increase of 42%.
