A BELOVED fish and chip shop, hailed by BBC chefs is set to close its doors for good, after 25 years.
Beetons, in Guernsey will serves locals their final chippy tea at the end of June, after owners Kim and Andy Ashplant decided to close the business.
2
2
The husband and wife duo, who have owned the chip shop since 2000, revealed they plan to retire, adding that it has become “harder to run a business”, amid the cost of living crisis.
“Now that we’ve made the announcement, it’s very emotional”, Kim shared in a Facebook post.
“There are people who come here every day for their lunch, or once a week for their dinner.
“We’ve really got to know these people, we’ve known them for almost 25 years.”
Read more closure stories
The chip shop, which had previously been run by Andy’s parents, was unoccupied when the couple decided to take it over.
They had no experience in running a chip shop, jumping in to the business “completely blind”.
However, they went on to receive proper training, and even a diploma in fish frying.
In 2001, BBC chefs Jennifer Paterson and Clarissa Dickson Wright, better known as ‘Two Fat Ladies’ teamed up with the Guernsey Press to review fish and chip shops on the Channel Island.
They named Beetons as Guernsey’s best chippy, which led to queues all the way down the road the following day.
Explaining the couple’s reason for closing, Kim said: “The main reason is for our retirement, but it has become harder to run a business.
“We own the business and we want to see what comes of it.
“We’d like to see it carry on as a chip shop but ultimately it’s up to the buyer.
“We’re closing on an emotional high, full of gratitude for everyone who has supported us over these incredible 24 years.”
Fans of the chippy have flooded the Facebook post, to share their devastation about the closure.
Why are retailers closing stores?
RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.
High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
However, additional costs have added further pain to an already struggling sector.
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury’s hike to employer NICs from April will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year.
Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: “The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025.”
It comes after almost 170,000 retail workers lost their jobs in 2024.
End-of-year figures compiled by the Centre for Retail Research showed the number of job losses spiked amid the collapse of major chains such as Homebase and Ted Baker.
It said its latest analysis showed that a total of 169,395 retail jobs were lost in the 2024 calendar year to date.
This was up 49,990 – an increase of 41.9% – compared with 2023.
It is the highest annual reading since more than 200,000 jobs were lost in 2020 in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced retailers to shut their stores during lockdowns.
The centre said 38 major retailers went into administration in 2024, including household names such as Lloyds Pharmacy, Homebase, The Body Shop, Carpetright and Ted Baker.
Around a third of all retail job losses in 2024, 33% or 55,914 in total, resulted from administrations.
Experts have said small high street shops could face a particularly challenging 2025 because of Budget tax and wage changes.
Professor Bamfield has warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector.
“By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer’s household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020.”
One person said: “You will be so missed as the best chippy on the island.
“Thank you for all the years of excellent service, and we wish you well.”
A second person said: “You gave me my first job at the grand old age of 13, and you treated me so well during my three years, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.
“Enjoy your retirement Andy and Kim, all the best.”
A third person said: “Such sad news indeed.
“We have bought our chippy dinner on a Friday with you for many years. The best chippy on the island.”
