A POPULAR seafront chippy has suddenly closed leaving locals desperate.
VC 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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VC Jones has been serving fish and chips in Whitstable for almost 62 years Credit: Alamy
The Jones family have run the fish and chip shop for almost 62 years but have decided to close the business to “focus on what’s really important in life”.
A statement on their website reads: “We spent this Christmas and New Year enjoying some rare and precious time together as a family.
“This time allowed us to appreciate each other and to focus on what is really important in life.
“As we enter our 62nd year in business as a family, we have all decided this is the perfect time to retire.
“This decision surprised us probably as much as you!”
The post goes on to say the doors will not reopen and thanks 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”.
Another added: “Got guts, my favorite chippy by far!”
A third person commented: “Oh no that’s sad, I used to work there in 1962! – best fish and chip shop in Whitstable!”
For now, it is not known what will happen to the space.
It’s a tough time for the hospitality sector and street vendors as the rising cost of living continues to bite.
Just this week a popular pub in Sheppey announced it would not be reopening leaving punters devastated.
The Aviator pub, run by Sheperd Neame, broke the news to customers in a Facebook post on January 1, saying it had become “impossible to continue”.
In December, another pub in the chain closed its doors just before Christmas.
The Duke of Edinburgh pub in Barming also announced on Facebook that it was closing and offered refunds to customers for its New Year’s party.
Also this week, two popular restaurants announced they could no longer continue.
Former Masterchef finalist Tony Rodd has closed his restaurant “immediately” after his monthly energy bill tripled to an eye-watering amount.
Also, celebrity chef Simon Rimmer has announced that he has made the heartbreaking decision to close his restaurant after 33 years.
Pub chain Greene King also pulled down the shutters at one of its locations late last year.
The chain, which has more than 1,600 branches across the country, closed The Beacon in Basingstoke at the start of November.
In the meantime, we have a full list of businesses closing this month.
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