Is This the End of an Era for Britain’s Beloved Fish and Chips?
In Britain, a fish and chip shop is about as popular as a pub or a corner store. It’s part of their national identity and tied to history and community. But the dish that once fueled mill workers and carried soldiers through war is now facing its toughest challenge in over 160 years.
Prices for cod and haddock have soared, the cost of sunflower oil is climbing, and even basics like potatoes and packaging come with higher bills. The rising energy, rent, and wages added to the mix have the dish’s future look grim. Industry leaders warn that nearly half of Britain’s chippies could vanish in the coming decades. That leaves people asking: how did this simple meal become so central to British life, and could it really disappear?
To get the full story, it helps to look at both ends of the timeline. Fish and chips started as an immigrant recipe adapted for religious practice. Over the centuries, it became the meal of the people. Today, its survival may depend on whether small shops can withstand financial pressures that threaten to push this tradition into history books.
Religious Necessity Turned Street Food
The roots of fried fish go back to Sephardi Jews who were expelled from Spain in 1492 and Portugal a few years later. Many settled in other parts of Europe, and when some eventually arrived in England during the mid-1600s, they brought with them a method of preparing cod that adhered to religious rules. Since cooking was forbidden on the Jewish Sabbath, they fried fish in flour or matzo meal on Fridays, which made it flavorful enough to eat cold the following day.
In England, this method quickly spread. Jewish vendors sold fried fish in the streets while carrying trays strapped to their necks, and cookbooks described the recipe as “Fried Fish, Jewish Fashion.” By using oil rather than lard, they kept the dish suitable for kosher households.
It wasn’t long before fried fish caught the public’s attention, and in 1863, Joseph Malin opened the first shop in London to serve it with chips. Around the same time in Ireland, an Italian immigrant was believed to be pairing the two from a handcart. Together, the combination was destined to become Britain’s favorite meal.
Feeding the Workers and the Soldiers
By the late 19th century, fish and chips had become essential to everyday life in Britain’s industrial towns. Factory workers relied on it as a filling, affordable, and quick-to-take-away option.
Its importance didn’t fade in wartime either. During World War II, Winston Churchill insisted that fish and chips remain exempt from rationing because they were believed to help maintain high morale. British soldiers even used the words “fish” and “chips” as a recognition call during the D-Day landings.
Why the Future Feels Uncertain
Image via Pexels/James Frid
The same meal, once known as affordable comfort food, is slipping out of reach for many households. Smaller family-owned shops are closing because they lack the buying power of larger chains. Even those that stay open are being forced to raise prices, so the dish might end up looking like a luxury option.
Still, history suggests this dish is hard to erase. It has endured centuries of change, from religious persecution to economic hardship and global conflict. The challenge now is whether Britain’s chippies can hold on through modern pressures.