A fish and chip owner is stunned after the cost of potatoes more than doubled in the space of a few weeks.

Gavin Lewis has run Lewis’s Fish & Grill in Maidstone for the last four years and says he has never seen anything like it.

The 42-year-old describes his journey at the shop as a “bit of a rollercoaster” due to a number of reasons.

He said: “The first year there was a huge drought. That brought its own issues in terms of potatoes and getting stock.

“In years two and three we had Covid, next was the energy crisis.

“It’s a bit frustrating because small businesses like us are the backbone of the industry in the UK. We’ve really taken a battering, it seems like one crisis after another.”

“It’s not all doom and gloom,” he added. “We are very happy to still be in business and really grateful to the people of Maidstone for supporting us.”

Gavin and his brother, Craig, have more than 30 years experience in the industry.

They took over the shop in 2018, when it was called Big Ben's Fish & Grill and have since been the finalists of the National Fish & Chip Awards.

However, the most recent and noticeable blow for the pair is the cost of potatoes, which Gavin says has more than doubled in the last few weeks.

“I’d say that we would normally pay £12 for a bag this time of year,” he explained. “But next week we have been told by the merchants that it will be £25.

“It’s gone up quite quickly – two weeks ago we were paying £16. In all my years in the industry I’ve never seen potatoes go above this.

“For them to hit £25 is a really big blow.”

The co-owner says the cause of the massive inflation is down to big companies “panic buying” due to a late season.

New potatoes – which are sourced from Cambridge and used during the summer period – are usually planted before Christmas.

They take six months to become available, and as a result the shop is currently buying potatoes from last season.

“We’ve had some bad weather during that time and planting was delayed until January,” Gavin said.

“The new potatoes are expected to come in late June/early July – whereas it really should be now.

“So the industry decided that they would let everybody know that there might be a shortage.

“Big businesses bought up a lot of the potato stock, and that has created a supply and demand issue.

“It’s very easy to blame Ukraine and the energy crisis, but what we are being told is just simply down to big businesses buying up lots – the likes of McCain, Walkers and supermarkets like Tesco.

“They don’t want to run out and I can't blame them, but at the same time it reminds me of panic buying petrol and loo rolls.”

The rise in costs comes after the news of a long-standing chippy, Deep Blue, suddenly closing after being in the town centre for more than half a century.

Gavin commented: “It’s such a blow. It’s terrible to find out that yet another fish and chip shop has gone under.

“When you hear of one that has been around for so long, it’s heartbreaking.

“It’s such a pity, because this is what the UK is all about – fish and chips.”

According to the Office of National Statistics, the average cost of a portion of fish and chips has gone from £7.56 to £9 – an increase of 19%.

Gavin, who currently charges £8.99 for 4-5oz fish and small portion of chips, says that people “will see an increase in prices”, with many already noticing the change when when they come in to buy.

Despite this, he hopes the influx will only be for around four or five weeks – until the new potatoes are available to buy at a lower price.

The National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) say the government aren’t doing enough to help independent shops like Lewis’s Fish & Grill.

President Andrew Crook said: “It is a combination of the warm weather last year as well as crisp companies and chip producers buying up what good stock there is.

“This is further compounding the pressures we are under from energy costs, inflation of our other ingredients and the cost of labour.

“With National Fish and Chip Day on Friday, June 2, we still plan to celebrate the dish, but for some it may be their last one without something changing.

“Small independent food businesses are really feeling the brunt of this situation and we feel marginalised by the government.

“As an industry, fish and chips has no representation on the hospitality council set up to help the sector recover.

“We urge the government to listen to our calls to look at how VAT is levied on food and help these businesses survive.”