Greedy seagulls have run up a £171million bill over stolen or spoilt meals, report says

Get your news delivered straight to you by 7am - sign up to our new Morning Mail newsletter for FREE See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 17:25 EDT, 27 August 2026 | Updated: 20:44 EDT, 27 August 2026 Even if we've not been dive-bombed by a seagull ourselves, most of us are well aware of the threat that the birds pose to our fish and chips.But, until now, no one has gone to the trouble of trying to work out just how much their airborne thieving is costing us.According to price comparison site Compare the Market, it apparently adds up to an enormous £171million a year in stolen or spoilt meals, with nearly three-quarters of Britons saying they have been targeted by gulls.'We've all been there – you sit down with your chips, look away for two seconds and suddenly your lunch has grown wings,' said Charlie Evans of Compare the Market.'We wanted to find out just how much this is costing. It turns out seagulls aren't just stealing our food – they're making a meal of our money too.'The study, called The Great Greedy Gull Index, found that the average cost of a gull grab is £5.50, with fish and chips being the most common target. According to Compare the Market, seagulls are costing us an enormous £171million a year in stolen or spoilt meals The Great Greedy Gull Index study found the average cost of a gull grab is £5.50, with fish and chips being the most common target More than three-quarters of those questioned said they have changed where or how they eat outdoors to stop gulls stealing their food.Nearly a third say that they have abandoned, dropped or sacrificed their food altogether.Following the survey Compare the Market is offering what is probably the UK's first 'Gull Guarantee' at Peter's Fish Factory in Margate, Kent. On Friday only, customers whose fish and chips are taken by a gull will get a free replacement portion, with the company putting up £1,000 to cover the costs.