A man recently visited what he claims is the 'most expensive' fish and chip shop in London, and he was left stunned by the price of the food. Ishan Ali documented his experience at the eatery in Mayfair, sharing his thoughts in a candid TikTok video.
As a food enthusiast, Ishan was curious to try the meal despite the high cost. He said: 'Let's try the most expensive fish and chips in London. We are on our way to Mayfair Chippy. The name itself says quite a lot. It's a fish and chip shop in Mayfair and, when I tell you the price, it's absolutely shocking.'
In the video, Ishan admitted he is '50/50' on fish and chips, preferring the chips over the fish. However, he praised the presentation, describing it as 'absolutely fantastic.' The meal came with curry sauce, mushy peas, and tartar sauce. 'The chips were seasoned perfectly. You can't go wrong with a battered fish. The fish was really nice. There were so many chips at the bottom, and the tartar sauce was absolutely phenomenal. The curry sauce was good too. I did struggle to finish everything,' he said.
Ishan claimed the meal cost £30, though the website lists it at £26.95, suggesting he may have rounded up or added extras. Some commenters also thought the price was steep, but Jamie Jones, a director of the shop, explained the reasons behind the cost.
Jones said the business has been running for over 11 years and the last few years have been 'tough' for fish and chip shops. The price of haddock has increased by 80%, but they have worked hard to limit the impact on customers. 'We want it to be a place for everybody, but fish and chips are becoming a luxury product. We employ over 150 people across two businesses. We give over £20,000 worth of free school meals over the year. We are trying to support customers as much as we can,' he explained.
Operating in an expensive area of London also adds to costs. Jones noted that VAT is a major factor, as fish and chips sold hot for immediate consumption are subject to the standard 20% UK VAT rate. Additionally, wholesale prices of some fish have skyrocketed due to reduced global quotas and fishing restrictions, while the cost of potatoes, cooking oil, and packaging has also surged.
'People need education about what is happening behind the scenes right now. You need to understand to give a fair review. Everybody is entitled to their opinion, but we are doing everything we can to bring a good price and product,' Jones added.
