As ingredient prices soar and government policies add to inflationary pressures, traditional British cafes face uncertain futures, casting doubt on the iconic full English breakfast’s survival on high streets.
Keir Starmer has come under political fire amid soaring prices for essential ingredients in the classic full English breakfast. Tory MP Mark Pritchard aggressively criticised the Labour government in the House of Commons, warning that cafes—integral to local high streets—are under threat due to rising costs of staples such as eggs, bacon, sausages, bread, and tea. Pritchard urged that while many government actions might be forgiven, the erosion or disappearance of the beloved British fry-up would not be taken lightly.
A Daily Mail analysis of Office for National Statistics data confirms significant price increases since Starmer became Prime Minister in June 2024. Eggs are up by 15p to £3.38 per dozen, sausages have risen 26p to £6.88 per kilogram, and milk and tea have also seen modest price hikes. Notably, bacon prices slightly declined from £8.47 to £8.34 per kilogram, contradicting some claims. The price increases reflect broader inflationary pressures affecting multiple food categories that underpin this iconic meal.
These rising costs have real impacts on small businesses such as Terry’s Cafe in London, run by Austin Yardley. Taking over from his father in 2010, Yardley faces a harsh operating environment, with supplier costs for sausages rising from £6.50 to £7.50 per kilogram, and bacon prices climbing from £9 to £11. Despite charging £17.50 for "The Works"—a substantial breakfast including sausage, bacon, egg, black pudding, mushrooms, baked beans, grilled tomatoes, and bubble and squeak—Yardley admits profit margins remain tight. He remarks, "I've never taken so much money and earned so little," highlighting how elevated input costs squeeze small independent cafes even amid steady customer demand.
Industry-wide concerns about cost pressures are echoed more broadly in the retail and hospitality sectors. Recent research from the Institute of Grocery Distribution projects UK food inflation could reach nearly 5% in 2025 owing to increased business costs linked to government budget measures such as higher National Insurance contributions and a raised minimum wage. Post-Brexit import complications—such as added border checks on EU produce—are also pushing prices upward. Only a fraction of these hikes can be absorbed by businesses, meaning much of the burden falls on consumers.
Retailers have additionally sounded alarms about the cumulative financial strain due to measures in the recent budget, warning of potentially £7 billion in extra costs. The British Retail Consortium highlighted risks of higher inflation, job losses, pay stagnation, and even store closures as sectors struggle to cope. The Conservatives have pushed for the abolition of business rates for thousands of retail and hospitality venues to alleviate pressures on high streets, but such motions have so far been voted down in Parliament.
Labour officials, meanwhile, emphasise their awareness of business challenges, attributing current pressures to long-term economic factors including productivity stagnation over the past 14 years. Communities Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh described government responses as pragmatic but disputed claims that the economy was in good shape previously. The Shadow Business Secretary acknowledged the importance of the full English breakfast as part of British culture and warned that threats to the food and hospitality sectors extend well beyond breakfast.
Amid these economic tensions, environmental and agricultural advocates continue to press the government for stronger support of British farming and local food production. Growing anxieties over food security and the sustainability of smaller farms have emerged alongside debates about new tax policies, with Prime Minister Starmer pledging that farming remains a governmental priority.
In sum, the full English breakfast stands as a symbol of wider economic debates taking place in the UK. Rising ingredient costs reflect complex interplay between government fiscal policies, inflationary pressures, post-Brexit trade realities, and the persistent squeeze on small businesses. For operators like Austin Yardley, the challenge remains balancing quality and affordability in a marketplace where essential British traditions face an uncertain future.
📌 Reference Map:
- [1] (Daily Mail) - Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
- [3] (Reuters) - Paragraphs 4, 5
- [4] (Reuters) - Paragraph 6
- [5] (Evening Standard) - Paragraph 7
- [6] (Soil Association) - Paragraph 7
- [2] (Japan Times) - Paragraph 3
- [7] (Reuters) - Paragraph 4
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative appears to be original, with no exact matches found in recent publications. However, similar discussions about rising food prices and their impact on traditional British meals have been reported in the past. For instance, in September 2025, London Business News highlighted that breakfast menu prices were likely to see the biggest increase from food inflation. ([londonlovesbusiness.com](https://londonlovesbusiness.com/breakfast-menu-prices-are-likely-to-see-the-biggest-increase-from-food-inflation/?utm_source=openai)) Additionally, in August 2025, The Straits Times reported on British inflation reaching an 18-month high, driven by surging food costs. ([straitstimes.com](https://www.straitstimes.com/business/economy/uk-inflation-at-18-month-high-as-food-transport-costs-soar?utm_source=openai)) These earlier reports suggest that while the specific focus on the full English breakfast is new, the broader issue of rising food prices has been a topic of discussion for several months. The absence of identical quotes or content in the current narrative indicates a high level of originality. However, the lack of recent coverage on this specific angle may raise questions about the freshness of the information. The narrative includes updated data, such as the 15p increase in egg prices to £3.38 per dozen and the 26p rise in sausage prices to £6.88 per kilogram, which may justify a higher freshness score. Nonetheless, the earlier discussions on rising food prices suggest that the core issue is not entirely new. Therefore, while the narrative is original, it may not be entirely fresh. The inclusion of updated data helps, but the broader context has been previously reported. This warrants a moderate freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The direct quote from Austin Yardley, "I've never taken so much money and earned so little," appears to be original, with no exact matches found in previous publications. This suggests a high level of originality in the reporting. The use of specific, attributed quotes enhances the credibility and authenticity of the narrative.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Daily Mail, a reputable UK newspaper. However, the Daily Mail has faced criticism in the past for sensationalism and inaccuracies. While it is a well-known publication, its reputation for reliability is mixed. Therefore, the source's reliability is moderate.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about rising prices for ingredients in the full English breakfast are plausible and align with broader reports on food inflation in the UK. For example, in September 2025, London Business News reported that breakfast menu prices were likely to see the biggest increase from food inflation. ([londonlovesbusiness.com](https://londonlovesbusiness.com/breakfast-menu-prices-are-likely-to-see-the-biggest-increase-from-food-inflation/?utm_source=openai)) Additionally, in August 2025, The Straits Times reported on British inflation reaching an 18-month high, driven by surging food costs. ([straitstimes.com](https://www.straitstimes.com/business/economy/uk-inflation-at-18-month-high-as-food-transport-costs-soar?utm_source=openai)) The inclusion of specific data points, such as the 15p increase in egg prices to £3.38 per dozen and the 26p rise in sausage prices to £6.88 per kilogram, adds credibility to the narrative. The direct quote from Austin Yardley further supports the plausibility of the claims. However, the reliance on a single source for some of the data points and the mixed reputation of the Daily Mail slightly reduce the overall confidence in the narrative's plausibility.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative presents original content with specific data points and quotes, indicating a high level of originality. However, the broader issue of rising food prices has been previously reported, which may affect the freshness of the information. The source, the Daily Mail, is a reputable UK newspaper but has a mixed reputation for reliability. The claims about rising prices for ingredients in the full English breakfast are plausible and supported by previous reports on food inflation in the UK. Given these factors, the overall assessment is OPEN with medium confidence.
