Fish and chips prices hit record high as families across England pay £15 - is this British staple becoming a luxury?

This British favourite, once seen as an affordable treat for everyone, is now taking a bigger bite out of family budgets.

Rising costs are making the classic fish and chips harder to justify as a simple Friday night indulgence, leaving many wondering whether this much-loved meal is still within reach for ordinary households.

The price of a simple chippy tea now depends on where you live. In some areas, fish and chips is still an affordable Friday night favourite, but in others, it’s starting to feel like a luxury.

One of Britain’s best-loved takeaways now costs an average of £11.23 a portion across England, up from £10.88 last year, according to new analysis by tombola.

Researchers looked at 240 top-rated chippies across the country and found a growing north-south divide, with prices in the South soaring far higher than in the North.

Rising food, energy and staff costs are all adding pressure to what was once one of the nation’s most accessible meals, leaving many families wondering if their regular chippy treat is becoming a little too pricey.

West Yorkshire offers the best value in the country, with an average portion costing £8.37 - well below the national average of £11.23.

Lancashire follows at £9.19, with northern counties dominating the affordability rankings as six of the ten cheapest areas sit above the Midlands, encompassing Cumbria, North Yorkshire, Tyne & Wear and Cheshire.

The capital presents a starkly different picture, where portions command £14.98 in the City of London.

Southern dominance in the expensive category is clear, with eight of the priciest regions located below the Midlands, amongst them Greater London, Buckinghamshire, Kent and Essex.

This geographical split reveals customers in the City paying nearly double West Yorkshire's rates for their traditional meal.

Three Yorkshire counties also ranked among the best places in England for fish and chips, including landlocked West Yorkshire, proving families don’t need to be by the coast to enjoy a great chippy.

In contrast, London’s high prices don’t always mean better quality, with the City of London averaging just 3.65 stars despite charging some of the highest prices in the country.

Samantha Wilcox, Organic Manager at tombola, said: "Fish and chips is more than just a meal it's a national obsession. Whether families are by the coast or grabbing a midweek tea, everyone has their go-to chippy and their own idea of what makes it perfect."

Rising prices for fish and chips reflect the wider cost pressures hitting the hospitality industry.

Higher prices for ingredients, soaring energy bills and increased staff costs have all pushed this once-affordable meal into more expensive territory, making it harder for budget-conscious families to enjoy regularly.

Despite the rising costs, quality remains high in many areas. Cornwall and North Yorkshire came out on top in the rankings, each earning an impressive 4.68 stars on TripAdvisor.

Cornwall’s long coastline gives it a natural edge when it comes to fresh fish, while Yorkshire’s inland chippies have proved that people don’t need to be by the sea to serve up top-quality fish and chips.