Back in October 2025, The Telegraph newspaper lamented that a British staple, fish and chips, had become unaffordable for most people, far from the days when it was so important to British survival that it was kept off rationing lists. The paper claimed that prices for the meal could soar to £20 a head in UK pubs.
Yet, among certain demographics, the idea of paying more for your supper isn’t just necessary, it’s part of the experience. Let’s go fishing and foraging, the high-class way.
The Muddy Reality
Fishing exists at both ends of the price scale. As a survival skill, it can be done with a stick and a piece of string. At the more exclusive end, it’s a world of high-quality tools and luxury resorts. This dichotomy simultaneously keeps fishing accessible to all while being one of the more niche hobbies.
Of course, the sights and smells of fishing aren’t for all stomachs, which is perhaps why the activity has gained such a hold on pop culture. Living the experience without the muddy reality is apparently something that sells video games.
These games exist in both simulator and arcade varieties. Players tailor a virtual trip to their own tastes. The Ultimate Fishing Simulator franchise from Shining Games tries to reflect real life with its inclusion of float, ground, and boat fishing, for example.
Described as “beautiful” and “outdoorsy”, the Fishing Frenzy slot from Reel Time Gaming goes in the opposite direction, offering cartoonish decals and simple one-click gameplay. The franchise has expanded to include more than five separate entries since its 2014 debut.
The popular mobile game Fishing Clash follows this simple premise, with rapid, one-click style encounters for casual players.
Back to Basics
High-class fishing in the real world is designed to excite (or offend) all the senses. A BBC article dedicated to “food sourcing expeditions” points to a party of squid-fishers in the Tyrrhenian Sea. These tourists pay hundreds of pounds for what might be considered a rather low-brow activity, finding their own dinner and ‘scraping’ by, albeit with the comfort of luxury accommodation.
This desire to go back to basics seems to ape the classic millennial interest in authentic and/or unusual experiences. Having to feed yourself from the land is, mercifully, not something many of us will ever have to contend with. So, it’s become something of a novelty to search beyond the supermarket aisles.
A few example journeys include truffle hunting and fruit and veg’ foraging. As mentioned, though, the price of individual wilderness hikes can be steep. New York’s Wildflower Farms charges £373 for up to four people.
Frequent foragers suggest that such excursions offer plenty of surprises. Food collected and cooked yourself reportedly tastes different from products sent through endless supply lines. Not knowing what you’re going to come across, whether mushroom or sturgeon, is another noted perk of these exclusive days out.
Of course, you don’t have to be wealthy to go foraging. The Woodland Trust produces its own foraging guide for berries, nuts, mushrooms, and plenty of other treats. Still, it doesn’t hurt to come home to a five-star resort afterwards.
