Britain’s beloved fish and chip shops are facing another major blow as the scorching heatwave threatens to trigger a shortage of one of the nation’s favourite side dishes — mushy peas.
The extreme weather conditions are putting pressure on pea harvests across the UK, with industry leaders warning that supplies could tighten and prices could rise as farmers struggle with the impact of prolonged hot weather.
For millions of customers, the classic fish and chips order — complete with a generous portion of mushy peas — is a national tradition. But chippy owners warn the latest agricultural threat comes at a time when the industry is already fighting a battle against soaring costs.
Andrew Crook, President of the National Federation of Fish Friers, warned that businesses are facing challenges “everywhere we look”.
“Peas and potatoes, we rely on them. The weather has a massive impact on those things,” he said.
“We are expecting a bad year on both.”
The warning comes as fish and chip shops continue to struggle with rising prices across almost every part of their business, from energy bills and cooking oil to the cost of fish and ingredients.
Industry figures show the average price of a cod and chips meal has climbed to around £11.41, while haddock and chips now costs approximately £10.29 — leaving many customers paying significantly more for a takeaway that was once considered an affordable family favourite.
Mr Crook said the situation was becoming increasingly difficult for independent chippy owners.
“We’re expecting an expensive year,” he said.
“Everything’s stacked against us. With peas, it’s another blow.”
He added that while some businesses may be able to absorb higher pea prices, many are already operating under intense financial pressure.
“Everybody’s costs have gone up. Everybody’s feeling the pain.”
The latest warning follows fears earlier this year that thousands of fish and chip shops could be forced to close due to the combined impact of rising energy costs, expensive cooking oil and increased seafood prices.
Owners have warned that traditional seaside favourites and local family-run takeaways are being squeezed from all sides, with some forced to increase prices just to survive.
The potential mushy pea shortage also highlights the wider impact of extreme weather on Britain’s food supply chain.
Farmers have repeatedly warned that unpredictable conditions, including heatwaves and drought, are making it harder to produce reliable harvests of essential crops.
With temperatures soaring and pressure mounting on the farming and hospitality industries, Britain’s iconic fish and chip supper is facing one of its toughest periods in decades.
For customers hoping for the familiar sight of golden chips, battered fish and a side of mushy peas, the future could come with an unwelcome extra cost.
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