A COUPLE who run a fish and chip shop in Bemerton Heath say they are stuck between a rock and a hard place after receiving notice their rent would be going up by £2,000.

Derek Mitchell and his wife, Mona, have run Mitchell’s Chippy in Pinewood Way for 20 years.

Renting the property from Salisbury City Council, they have paid £9,000 for the last five years.

Mr Mitchell said: “We can’t afford to pay £2,000 out of our profit. The fish is so expensive now, and the potatoes - to have to find £2,000 is almost impossible. It’s just so difficult.”

Having signed a 15-year lease at the beginning, a rent review is now undertaken every five years.

The couple, who also employ two people part-time, live above the shop.

“We thought it would go up £1,000 which would be a struggle, but it was double that. It’s £38 a week, that’s ten or 12 pieces of fish that we need to sell,” Mr Mitchell said.

“My wife is not in good health and wants to cut her hours, I’m 72 and want to cut my own hours, but instead we have to work more hours to pay this – it’s ridiculous.”

He added: “We can’t sell the business, nobody would buy it because we are not making enough profit and we can’t keep it ourselves because we are getting too old – we are stuck in a catch-22.”

Mr Mitchell said he believes the loft space and conservatory have been unfairly included as part of the rent rate. 

The couple say they paid for the conservatory themselves and if the council wishes to charge them it should provide full compensation for the building.

Regarding the loft which is used to store empty suitcases and blankets, Mr Mitchell said they would block access if necessary.

A Salisbury City Council spokesman said: “A rent review is underway as per the lease.”