A MUCH-LOVED fish and chip shop in Southampton has closed after nearly 15 years.
It is the end of an era for the award-winning fish and chip shop The Little Fryer in Bitterne.
Owner Deirdra Cranny first threw open the doors to her shop in December 2007, just before Christmas but shut it last week.
The 50-year-old said the closure has left her feeling "sad, hard, bewildered, unsure, uncertain" - but she has thanked all her staff and loyal customers for their support.
Rising costs had forced her to close - with oil prices increasing from £12 to £28 for a box, and fish prices going up from £120 to £280 for a box.
Deirdra said: "The prices for everything went up and I just can't sustain myself.
"For years, I have worked really hard and paid all my bills and I am forever grateful for all of my staff.
"They are the reason I could do what I did because without them staff I was nothing."
"Now it's time to live and move on with children."
While struggling to make ends meet, Deirdra did everything she could to keep her business afloat - including increasing prices.
Running the business she was often joined behind the counter by her 21-year-old son Cody, who is her 'most valuable asset'.
But now she has decided to move on to the next chapter of her life - as is Cody.
She said: "I personally believe that everybody should be able to enjoy the English traditional fish and chips and for this reason, I kept going until I was stopped.
"The reality of today is that my eldest son is leaving to lead his own life and my second son needs me.
"Being a mum and a dad since he was four years old has been a job in itself. Now my passions have moved and my youngest son needs me."
She added: "My family took a risk and set up The Little Fryer.
"We invested everything that we had in this shop and didn't have any money to buy presents for Christmas."
She said in 2016 she started running the business solo.
"I took the shop on solo as a single parent at its most challenging and financially hard time," she said.
Ever since then, the mum-of-two has juggled between parental duties and her business to provide for her family.
The Bitterne shop in West End Road served burgers, sausages, chilli and a range of gluten-free products.
It was voted among Southampton's top 15 fish and chip shops according to Tripadvisor - and also won awards for its gluten-free menu.
Deirdra recalled: "So many times, I was told that a fish and chip shop could not win a gluten-free award, but I proved them wrong.
"I worked really hard for it and I did it. I won the award."
While the shop owner has made memories that she will treasure forever, she blamed the increase in the cost of living, which drove her to close the store for good.
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