Anger after fish and chip customers queue ‘like sardines’ for 45p meal deal
FISH and chip shop customers have sparked anger after queuing “like sardines” for a 45p meal deal. Hungry punters hunting a bargain meal queued for hours at Mother Hubbard’s fish and chip shop in Bradford, West Yorkshire, over the weekend. It comes as Covid-19 cases in the area have seen a sudden surge amid fears […]
FISH and chip shop customers have sparked anger after queuing “like sardines” for a 45p meal deal.
Hungry punters hunting a bargain meal queued for hours at Mother Hubbard’s fish and chip shop in Bradford, West Yorkshire, over the weekend.
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It comes as Covid-19 cases in the area have seen a sudden surge amid fears of a local lockdown.
Nicola Khan, who captured video of the queues, said people were not wearing masks or distancing as they flocked to the eatery.
“Absolutely shocking, people queuing like sardines, no social distancing, no masks – and all for 45p fish and chips,” she said.
The video appeared to show metal barriers in place, which were put up by the restaurant in an effort to facilitate sensible queuing outside the store.
But one passerby said that scenes like the one outside Mother Hubbard’s are “definitely a contributing factor” in rising infection rates.
Mother Hubbard’s responded to the controversy, claiming that while the scene did look “chaotic”, the restaurant “tried its best” to manage things “professionally.”
Absolutely shocking, people queuing like sardines, no social distancing, no masks – and all for 45p fish and chips
Witness Nicola Khan
The chippy said that markings were made on the ground to enforce social distancing, while masks and hand sanitiser were also handed out to those in the queue.
A spokesperson from Mother Hubbard’s said: “Our priority is to keep the public and our staff safe, that is always our intention.
“In the videos and pictures, the scene did look chaotic, but they don’t tell the full story.
“We had professional barriers in place, we had markings on the ground so people could socially distance, we were giving out masks and hand sanitiser to the customers and only two to three people were allowed inside the store at one time.”
The spokesperson said the shop did all they could to keep people safe.
“If you look at the government’s eat out to help out scheme, no restaurants in Bradford had the same measures that we had in place yesterday,” they said.
“We saw long queues outside restaurants across Bradford during that scheme. None of them went to the extent of having barriers or handing out masks, but we went to the next level and we prepared professionally.”
The special offer was made in relation to the store’s opening in 1972 by Coronation Street stars Bernard Youens and Jean Alexander – who played Stan and Hilda Ogden – when prices were much cheaper.
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The spokesperson added: “So, at our flagship store on Legrams Lane, we decided to give something back to the people of Bradford and charge them our original 1972 price for fish and chips.
“We made this decision in the name of community spirit – everyone has had a tough time due to COVID-19, so we wanted to give something back.
“It was all about bringing back the nostalgia of 1972 and supporting the local community.”
