A Birmingham fish and chip shop owner has sparked a wave of nostalgia and lengthy queues by turning back the clock to 1980s pricing, selling cones of chips for just 20p.
The Retro Promotion That Captured a City
Nassar Iqbal, the proprietor of the Hot Spot chippy in Billesley for 22 years, ran a special two-hour promotion on Wednesday, 14th January. Known affectionately as 'Uncle Nas', he offered school pupils wearing uniform a cone of chips with salt and vinegar for the throwback price of 20p, a stark contrast to the typical £1.50 charge.
"The kids that follow us on TikTok have absolutely no idea that chips back in the day used to cost just 20p," Nassar explained. He reminisced about sneaking out at lunch in the 80s for the cheap, vinegary treat and wanted to share that experience with a new generation.
Overwhelming Response from Youngsters
The response was immediate and overwhelming. Scores of children formed a queue that stretched around the block, with hundreds eager to get their hands on the bargain snack during the 3pm to 5pm window.
Nassar, who has built a social media following of nearly 30,000 on TikTok, said the reaction was amazing. However, the sheer popularity of the offer highlighted the current economic pressures facing traditional fish and chip shops.
The Realities Behind the Fryer
While delighted by the success, Nassar was compelled to restrict the promotion, pointing to the soaring costs threatening the industry. "The cost of potatoes, oil and gas have really gone up and cod prices are just ridiculous," he stated.
He also noted a shift in tastes, suggesting the traditional chippy is losing its trendy status among young people who now gravitate towards smash burgers and peri peri chicken. "Chips are typically a grown-up thing now," he added, "and that is why I wanted to show youngsters what they are missing out on."
Despite the challenges, for one afternoon in Billesley, Uncle Nas successfully recreated a simple, joyful piece of community history, proving that some classics never truly go out of style.
