The long-running neighbourhood chippy said “government mistakes” are partly to blame
Lawrence Weston Fish Bar is located on Ridingleaze, the main row of shops in the neighbourhood(Image: Google Maps)
The owner of a Bristol chip shop has spoken of his fight to keep his much-loved business alive amid “major” challenges. Jay Choganbaz, who owns and runs Lawrence Weston Fish Bar, says he has had to dip into his own savings to keep his chippy going.
Some of his customers got in touch with Bristol Live recently, worried that he was on the brink of closing after around two decades serving the community.
Jay has since clarified that it had actually been the business next door, a buy and sell shop, that had closed a month prior. However, he acknowledged it is a “really hard time” not just for him, but everyone working in the hospitality industry.
He said: “I’ve been struggling for a long time, but I’m not closing right now. Unfortunately, after Covid and especially in the last year, everything has gone up. Inflation is very bad here.
“I’ve been in a struggle a long time because cost of living has gone up, fish prices have gone up, everything. And I believe that most small businesses are struggling right now too, because of it.”
The Lawrence Weston Fish Bar, located on Ridingleaze, is popular with customers, who describe Jay’s food as being “fresh to order” with “bl**** massive portions”. Some months ago, customers on Reddit urged locals to go in and support the business.
Jay told Bristol Live: “In the last six or seven months, I’ve noticed three shops have shut here. I’m having to top up money for my business from my own pocket. And this is why, I believe, we’re still going.
“Personally, I believe the problem is that the last government and this government have made too many mistakes. They cut the fuel payments for pensioners – that’s a major one. We lost a lot of customers.”
One local has even set up a GoFundMe to help secure the chip shop’s future, with a £5,000 target. The GoFundMe organiser, Phil, wrote on the page: “I’m a local guy and have lived in Lawrence Weston my whole life.
“I’ve seen the local area change and the community change too. I believe Lawrence Weston is still the good community it has always been when it comes to helping others, so today I’ve set up this page to save the one and only shop that has always been a chip shop.
“Over the years it has change hands but it’s always been a friendly welcoming place. Many summer nights and many winter evenings our families have enjoyed food from this place. The connections food make is a powerful one and I for one would be sad to see this business disappear.
“The shop has been struggling for a while, since lockdown, and I believe with a cash injection it’ll do the world of good.”
Jay said he has no plans to close but he worries that outgoings will continue to rise. He added: “I’ve been here a long time – nearly 20 years – and it’s a really really hard time. And I think it’s only getting worse. I had some guy from my supplier by the other day and he said the prices would be going up more next year, especially for food.
“Lawrence Weston is a deprived area. Most people around here are on benefits or single parents, and they struggle. Then you have the situation with Russia and Ukraine that has affected everything. We live in an uncertain world and right now I’m just trying to get by.”