Television chef Rick Stein is charging diners up to £1.25 for condiments in his high-end restaurant, Stein’s Fish & Chips, in north Cornwall.
Mayonnaise and tartare sauce – considered fish and chip staples – are sold to diners in little paper ramekins. A discount of 25p is available if they choose to take away rather than dining in. Ketchup is sold in 35p sachet.
We went to Poppies, an award-winning fish and chip shop in London, to ask people if being charged for their condiments would make them think twice about what they chucked on their chips, and whether they would fork out £1.25 at Stein’s.
Paula Bloodworth, 32, advertising planning director, north London
There’s something wonderfully basic about fish and chips. It’s not about adding fancy extras or trying to take advantage of the consumer. Maybe sometimes I would have sauce on chips, but I wouldn’t pay that much.
Colin Stride, 76, Chingford, Essex
It’s disgraceful to charge so much. Fish and chips have become so posh. It was so cheap when we were kids; everyone could afford it. I like salt and vinegar, my son loves tartare and mayonnaise.
MuMu He, 28, print designer, China
I think everything in the UK is getting more expensive. I think with Brexit the UK is trying to make itself different from the rest of Europe. I only use a bit of ketchup anyway.
Jason Gouin, 25, house DJ, Miami, US
In Florida, all the sauces are free. I use tartare sauce, but I like ketchup and mustard a lot. I use as much as I want when it’s free, but if they started charging I wouldn’t buy it. I’d bring my own.
Johannes Schroth, 20, medical genetics student, Dresden, Germany
It’s just another way to make money, it doesn’t feel very authentic. I work at a small restaurant, they don’t charge for the bread basket – I like that kind of restaurant much more.
George Jackson, 20, artist, Birmingham
Fish and chips are working-class food; if you charge more, you drive the heritage away. I love tomato sauce, but condiments should be free of charge. The quality of food should be at a standard from Rick Stein’s restaurant that you shouldn’t need them.
Elger, Gaby and Jona Oestreicher, 51, 47, 18, Germany
Elger: It’s definitely too expensive – 10p would be OK. We do not normally pay for ketchup. It’s not as if I’m going to look round restaurants to see if they’re charging. I guess it’s your choice whether you eat it or not.
Gaby: It’s too expensive. Normally it’s free. I wouldn’t visit the restaurant, no way.
Jona: I can understand if it’s high quality and I would try it to taste the difference. But I’m happy with the normal ketchup, and, for a takeaway, it’s too expensive.
Dave Hodgson, 68, and Sue Hodgson, 67, retired, Bradford
Dave: It’s a rip-off to charge £1.25, but who would put ketchup on fish and chips? I use homemade mint sauce.
Sue: It should be on the table if you’re going to have it. If the food’s good enough, you don’t need ketchup anyway.
- This article was amended on 9 August. The headline and article originally suggested that tomato ketchup also cost £1.25, rather than 35p.
