A couple claim they will never return to a popular seaside town again after being served a "shameful" portion of fish and chips that set them back £15. On a social media post, they shared that the local chippy had "tarnished" their opinion of Salcombe, in Devon, after paying so much for a "tiny piece of fish."
Mike Turner, 57, and his wife Jane, 53, had visited the town to celebrate their 32nd wedding anniversary and had been completing a six-mile walk when they decided to visit the Captain Morgan's cafe for a bite to eat. They initially wanted to get a sandwich each until they realised it would cost £8 each. Instead, they decided to get one portion of fish and chips between them and two cans of fizzy pop, which totaled up to £15.
The Mirror reports that a waiter had brought over their food and apologise for the size of fish they'd been given - that measured just four inches long - and had been given "extra chips" to compensate. The couple was shocked as they received their food and said that the experience left a "sour taste" in their mouths, which made them not want to return to the area.
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Mike, from Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, said: "It wasn't your normal chip shop, it was by a car park. We'd been walking six miles and were super hot, hungry and exhausted. We were going to grab a sandwich but it was £8 each and to me, that's [not acceptable] and I refused to pay it so we said we'd share fish and chips.
"About 10 mins later, the waiter came out and said he was sorry but the fish was a bit small but they'd put a few extra chips on the plate instead. We look down at the portion of fish and chips and we were shocked, especially for the price. It wasn't cheap. It was a tiny piece of fish. We put a tomato sauce sachet next to it and it was about that size.
"You look back and think you should take it back and say it's ridiculous but we were so tired and didn't have the energy. We just needed something to eat. We didn't want that confrontation, I can be a little opinionated, I would have said what I thought. Rather than extra chips, they should have given us two small pieces of fish and the chips weren't potato peeled, they were frozen."
He added: "It left a sour taste in our mouths because we'd had some lovely meals all weekend. It overshadowed it, we won't go to Salcombe again. It tarnished it. They charge whatever they like hoping that the majority of people will pay it."
Mike shared his review of the Captain Morgan's on a local Facebook group and received comments from people who agreed with him that the price was "shamful" and a "rip off." He added that he wrote the post to warm other walkers: "I posted it on a local Facebook group where people make recommendations. We felt people needed to know. Around 90% said it's terrible, a few said that's what you get in this day and age but it needs to be highlighted.
"I'm a big believer that petrol prices are too high and people are profiteering left right and centre. In the winter these businesses make their money out of people who walk." Captain Morgan's was contacted for comment but did not respond.