Hundreds queue for 'Britain's cheapest fish and chips' being sold for a PENNY
- 10 days ago
Hundreds of people queued up today (Thurs) to get their hands on 'Britain's cheapest fish and chips' - for just a PENNY.
Merchants Fish and Chips in Halesowen, West Mids., offered the "crazy" bargain deal which saw hungry customers queuing around the block from 11am.
The patriotic chippy decided to dramatically slash its prices to mark 80 years since D-Day - which is also National Fish and Chip Day.
The takeaway, which usually charges £7 for a portion of fish and chips, reduced the cost to just 1p - a staggering reduction of 99.9 per cent.
Pat Williams, 78, travelled from Kidderminster, Worcs., to be first in the queue an hour before the chip shop opened at midday.
She said: "I wanted to make good use of my free bus pass and take advantage of this amazing offer.
"I've come along with a friend who I worked with for 50 years and we thought it would give us a bit of a different day out.
"I use the Merchants in Bewdley, and it usually costs £10.50 for a pensioner's special but that comes with bread and butter and a cup of tea or coffee.
"It's great value but this is even better and all for a good cause as they are giving some proceeds toward the poppy appeal.
"I would not have been here if my father did not return from Dunkirk. He loved a bargain too, so it's in his honour as well."
Jackson Kinyoe, 36, from Wolverhampton, said: "I work this way so I'm a regular customer and come here for my lunch quite a lot and the haddock is lovely.
"What usually sets my back £7 a time is today going to cost me a penny - it's brilliant.
"The queues are pretty big. It's going to take a lot longer than usual to get served but you don't mind waiting at these prices."
Another customer Paul Hurst, 49, of Halesowen, added: "I've never seen an offer this cheap. It must be the cheapest portion of fish and chips anywhere in the country.
"I remember one doing 99p previously but this is just absolutely crazy. Nothing costs 1pm anymore. Even penny sweets.
"I'm just hoping I can get served and back to work again on my lunch break. But I'm not missing out on this."
Manager Aggie Orthodoxou – who has worked at the chippy since it opened two and a half years ago – said he was expecting "mayhem."
Speaking ahead of the one-day-only offer, the 52-year-old said: "We are doing regular cod and chips for a penny. I think this will be absolute mayhem.
"We are going to do a bit for charity too and put money towards the poppy appeal.
"We did fish and chips half price for the King's Coronation last year and that was a big success as well."
Merchants opens from 12pm to 2pm and then 4.30pm to 8.30pm Mondays to Thursdays, from 12pm to 9pm on Fridays and from 12pm to 8.30pm on Saturdays.
The business will offer the one-penny deal during its usual opening hours today - but only while stock lasts.
Merchants Fish and Chips in Halesowen, West Mids., offered the "crazy" bargain deal which saw hungry customers queuing around the block from 11am.
The patriotic chippy decided to dramatically slash its prices to mark 80 years since D-Day - which is also National Fish and Chip Day.
The takeaway, which usually charges £7 for a portion of fish and chips, reduced the cost to just 1p - a staggering reduction of 99.9 per cent.
Pat Williams, 78, travelled from Kidderminster, Worcs., to be first in the queue an hour before the chip shop opened at midday.
She said: "I wanted to make good use of my free bus pass and take advantage of this amazing offer.
"I've come along with a friend who I worked with for 50 years and we thought it would give us a bit of a different day out.
"I use the Merchants in Bewdley, and it usually costs £10.50 for a pensioner's special but that comes with bread and butter and a cup of tea or coffee.
"It's great value but this is even better and all for a good cause as they are giving some proceeds toward the poppy appeal.
"I would not have been here if my father did not return from Dunkirk. He loved a bargain too, so it's in his honour as well."
Jackson Kinyoe, 36, from Wolverhampton, said: "I work this way so I'm a regular customer and come here for my lunch quite a lot and the haddock is lovely.
"What usually sets my back £7 a time is today going to cost me a penny - it's brilliant.
"The queues are pretty big. It's going to take a lot longer than usual to get served but you don't mind waiting at these prices."
Another customer Paul Hurst, 49, of Halesowen, added: "I've never seen an offer this cheap. It must be the cheapest portion of fish and chips anywhere in the country.
"I remember one doing 99p previously but this is just absolutely crazy. Nothing costs 1pm anymore. Even penny sweets.
"I'm just hoping I can get served and back to work again on my lunch break. But I'm not missing out on this."
Manager Aggie Orthodoxou – who has worked at the chippy since it opened two and a half years ago – said he was expecting "mayhem."
Speaking ahead of the one-day-only offer, the 52-year-old said: "We are doing regular cod and chips for a penny. I think this will be absolute mayhem.
"We are going to do a bit for charity too and put money towards the poppy appeal.
"We did fish and chips half price for the King's Coronation last year and that was a big success as well."
Merchants opens from 12pm to 2pm and then 4.30pm to 8.30pm Mondays to Thursdays, from 12pm to 9pm on Fridays and from 12pm to 8.30pm on Saturdays.
The business will offer the one-penny deal during its usual opening hours today - but only while stock lasts.