Ernie Beckett’s, one of Cleethorpes’s best known fish-and-chip shops, has announced it will close at the end of September 2026. The business released a statement on social media saying the decision followed a sustained decline in customers and a rise in operating pressures.
Why the owners are calling time
The message from the shop cited several factors that together left the business “with no other option”. It listed continued increases in running costs, higher VAT and other expenses as putting “significant pressure” on the firm. Work being carried out by North East Lincolnshire Council outside the premises was also blamed for reducing passing trade, alongside events concentrated at the opposite end of the resort.
“It is with an incredibly heavy heart that we announce Ernie Beckett’s will be closing at the end of September 2026.”
Deliveries have become problematic too, according to the statement, with vans often unable to reach the property because of access restrictions linked to the council’s works. The owners said they could not continue under those conditions for the expected duration of the scheme.
What this means for Cleethorpes
The closure marks the end of an era for a business regarded as a local institution. The owners thanked customers and current and former staff for decades of support and said they hoped the shop’s legacy might one day return.
- Closing date: end of September 2026
- Main reasons given: rising operational costs, VAT, reduced footfall due to council works and event patterns, delivery access problems
- Council position: Market Place scheme intended to boost footfall across the resort
| Issue | Impact cited by owners |
|---|---|
| Operational costs & VAT | Increased financial pressure on the business |
| Council works outside shop | Drop in passing trade and disrupted deliveries |
| Event activity elsewhere | Concentrated footfall away from the shop |
Council response and wider context
A North East Lincolnshire Council spokesperson told reporters the Market Place scheme is one of three projects aimed at drawing more visitors into the resort. The council’s comment indicates its longer-term objective is to increase footfall for all businesses, but the shop’s statement suggests the immediate impact of the works has been damaging for at least this business.
For residents and visitors this means a familiar Cleethorpes name will disappear from the town’s food scene unless new circumstances allow a return. The owners urged customers to continue supporting the shop over the next few months so they can “go out with a truly legendary bang”.
Local people who rely on or cherish independent food businesses will want to watch how the council’s regeneration schemes progress and whether measures are introduced to support traders affected by building works and access restrictions.
Further practical information about the closure will be released by the Ernie Beckett’s team over the coming weeks via their social channels, the statement said.
