One of Ryde’s best-known fish and chip shops has been forced to close indefinitely after its frying range gave up the ghost, leaving the Dilk family facing an uncertain future after 27 years behind the fryer.
Chipmunks, on Monkton Street, announced this week that it will not reopen for the foreseeable future after engineers confirmed its ageing frying range could not be repaired because replacement parts are no longer available.
The Dilk family has run the business since 1998, although a fish and chip shop has operated from the premises for decades. The frying range that has now failed dates back to 2003.
The problems first emerged on Friday (26th June), when owner Karen was forced to close after 2 fryer pans malfunctioned.
In an emotional message to customers at the time, she said she was ‘very scared’, explaining that the takeaway was her only source of income and that she had spent the previous day and night crying while trying to find a solution.
Despite efforts to source replacement parts, an engineer later confirmed the range had reached the end of the road and would need to be replaced entirely.
Announcing the closure on Tuesday (1st July), Karen said:
“After 27 years it’s been my life. However unfortunately from 25.6.26 my fryers died and no replacement parts can be sourced and boy I’ve looked, believe me.
Article continues below this advertisement “Engineer has told me I need a new range, so it is with the saddest, saddest regret I have to advise I will not be open for the foreseeable future.
“I’m sorry but it’s been taken out of my hands by my fryers and I’m very, very emotional about it all.
“Thank you for all your support and care over the years.”
The announcement sparked an overwhelming response from customers, with hundreds leaving messages of support and recalling decades of visits to the long-established takeaway.
