A POPULAR seaside chippy has suddenly closed leaving locals devastated.
V.C Jones in Whitstable opened its doors in 1962 and customers say it served “the best fish and chips in the world”.
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The Jones family has run the fish and chip shop for almost 62 years, but has decided to wrap up the business to “focus on what’s really important in life”.
A statement on their website reads: “We have spent this Christmas and New Year enjoying some rare and precious time together as a family.
“This time has enabled us to appreciate each other and to focus on what’s really important in life.
“As we enter our 62nd year of trading as a family, we have all decided that this is the perfect time to retire.
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“This decision has surprised us probably as much as it has surprised you!”
The post went on to say that the doors would not be reopening and thanked the generations of customers for their support.
Customers of the chippy immediately took to social media to express their sadness and shock at the closure.
One person said: “Thank you for all the years of eating the best fish and chips in the world, I could cry”.
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Another added: “I’m gutted, my favourite chippie by far!”
A third person commented: “Oh no that is sad I worked there back in 1962! – the best fish and chip shop in Whitstable!”
It is not known at the moment what will become of the premises.
It is a tough time for the hospitality sector and high-street retailers as the rising cost of living continues to bite.
Just this week a popular pub in Sheppey announced that it would not be reopening leaving punters devastated.
The Aviator pub that is run by Sheperd Neame broke the news to customers in a Facebook post on January 1, saying how it had become “impossible to continue”.
In December another pub belonging to the chain closed its doors right before Christmas.
The Duke of Edinburgh pub in Barming also announced on Facebook it would be shutting and offered refunds to customers for its New Year’s Eve party.
Also this week two popular restaurants announced that they could no longer continue.
Tony Rodd, an ex-Masterchef finalist closed his restaurant “immediately” after its monthly energy bill tripled to an eye-watering sum.
Also, celebrity chef Simon Rimmer announced that he had made the heartbreaking decision to close his restaurant after 33 years.
Pub chain Greene King pulled the shutters down on one of its locations at the end of last year too.
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The chain, which has more than 1,600 branches across the country, shut down The Beacon in Basingstoke in early November.
Meanwhile, we have a full list of the businesses that will be shutting down this month.
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