A mother has left social media users astonished after revealing she paid just £26.50 for fish and chips to feed a family of four. Becky, known as Becky's Bakes UK on TikTok, shared her experience in a video that quickly went viral, challenging the perception that the beloved British takeaway has become unaffordable.
What the Meal Included
In the clip, Becky detailed the contents of her order: one sausage in batter, a large portion of chips, one small cod, a quarter pounder with cheese, and a pot of curry sauce. She challenged viewers to guess the total cost before revealing the price. "Before I show you what we ordered, guess how much this cost? It was feeding a family of four," she said. "£26.50 for fish and chips. I actually didn't think that was too bad. Convince me otherwise."
Becky admitted she was impressed with both the quality and portion sizes, stating, "Considering what some takeaways charge these days, I actually walked away thinking that wasn't too bad." She added, "I'm interested to know what you think. Would you pay that, or has fish and chips got too expensive?"
Viewer Reactions
The video garnered hundreds of likes and dozens of comments, with many agreeing that the meal represented excellent value. One user commented, "That lot is a bargain." Another shared their own experience: "I got fish and chips on Friday. Two cod, two large chips, two soft drinks - £32.75." A third remarked, "Good deal considering the prices these days," while a fourth simply said, "That's really cheap."
A further user noted, "That's a decent large bag! In Derry, a large bag is ridiculous. It wouldn't feed three people these days."
Rising Costs of Fish and Chips
The affordability of Becky's meal stands in contrast to broader trends. According to industry data, the cost of fish and chips has nearly doubled since 2020. The average price for cod and chips now stands at around £11.41, while haddock and chips carries an average price of £10.29. Prices vary significantly by location, driven by several factors.
Cod stocks have been depleted, leading governments to reduce catch limits to protect fish populations, which has pushed wholesale fish prices upward. Additionally, operating large deep fryers is energy-intensive, and electricity costs have soared for chip shop owners. The price of cooking oil and potatoes has also climbed considerably in recent times.
