A Chinese takeaway has revealed how much prices have soared since the 1980s after being forced to close after almost four decades of trading.
The Lee family, owners of Sun Rise in New Ash Green, Kent, saying that increased cost pressures and overheads were making the business unviable.
A menu survives from opening day in July 1986, showing how prices have changed over the past 38 years.
Back then a portion of cooked rice cost 90p, not £3.50 like it does now, and a dish of sweet and sour chicken cost just £1.95, now it’s £7.
Other cheap and cheerful menu options in the 80s included special fried rice for £1.55, chicken chow mein for £1.15 and curry sauce for 60p.
From left to right, Chi Lee, Shun Hong Lee, Shun Man Lee and May Lee are closing shop after almost 40 years of running their family-friendly Chinese takeaway
Shun Hong Lee pictured at Sun Rise takeaway in New Ash Green, Kent
This old Chinese takeaway menu shows how much prices have risen since the 1980s
Owner Shun Man Lee, 56, said: “We have decided it is time to stop offering takeaway food. We’ve been here for a while, but it’s time to call it quits.
‘Since Covid, the prices of everything have gone up. We have increased our prices, but it is becoming increasingly burdensome for customers.’
Mr Lee said the cost of ingredients has almost doubled in recent years, with gas and electricity costs rising by around 30 per cent.
He said items such as a bag of potatoes, which used to cost €12, now cost €18 and it has become cheaper to buy chicken from a supermarket rather than a wholesaler.
Mr Lee added: “We tried to come up with solutions such as closing earlier, but we had to think about the long term.
‘It’s a family business, we’ve all worked here, but we have to think about the family and how we can move forward.
“This business was to support the family and the children, make sure they got a good education and had a roof over their heads.
“Like most immigrant families, we set up shop to sell the food we grew up with and ate.”
He continued: “We will miss everyone. It hasn’t been an easy decision. Thank you to all our customers and their support, past and present. They are the whole reason it has thrived so well.
Sweet and sour chicken cost just £1.95 in the 1980s, compared to £7 today
The Lee family says increased cost pressures and overheads made the business unviable. Pictured: May Lee
Owner Shun Man Lee (pictured), 56, said: ‘We have decided it is time to stop offering takeaway food. We’ve been here for a long time, but it’s time to call it quits.”
A look at the message the Lee family left with their customers
Flowers were left by members of the community thanking the Lee family for their service
Thank you cards from loyal customers at Sun Rise takeaways
‘We did not expect this support from our announcement that we were closing, we were affected by it.
‘We hope to see people in the village and say hello. We will still be part of the community, just differently.”
He said even regulars are buying popular dishes like chicken feed in bulk to freeze and asking for their curry sauce recipe to make at home.
Mr Lee has worked in the shop since he was 17, but has now decided it is time to try something new, with less ‘stress and tension’ and where he is no longer the boss.
His wife May Lee added: “We’re going to take a break and see what we can do.”
