A fish and chip shop which was set to star on BBC television has closed its doors after less than seven months.

The candy-striped Cousins fish shop and restaurant in the Broadway welcomed cameras from Homes under the Hammer ahead of its opening in December last year but it has already closed due to problems with cost and staffing.

Wimbledon Times:

Closed: Cousins fish shop and restaurant 

The opening saw packets of freshly cooked fish and chips dished out in newspaper style wrappings, with a glass of bubbly for guests.

From December: BBC films Homes Under the Hammer in Wimbledon fish and chip shop

From yesterday: 24 hours at Wimbledon Fire Station: bedroom blaze, fish shop flood and boy, 5, trapped in tree

It is due to be turned into a bridal boutique by owners Steve and Maria Sotiriou, who also run nearby Teokath, pictured below, an appointment-only bridal boutique shop.

Wimbledon Times:

He said the plan is for the new shop, to be called Paverly Bridal, to be a lower-cost alternative to Teokath, with dresses costing between £1,500 and £1,600.

Mr Sotiriou's daughters Pavlina and Everly will run the new shop, set to open in September. The name is an amalgamation of both sisters' names.

He had opened the fish business with his cousins but a desire to expand the bridal family business meant they decided to close the fish shop on Sunday, July 19.

Next door, the former Centro business, is set to be replaced by a restaurant although it is not known which one. Franco Manca, the pizza restaurant, will open its doors opposite the Piazza in two or three months, replacing Sama Kitchen.

Mr Sotiriou said: "We want to stock designers from across the world, and one shop’t big enough. The other store stocks dresses for a couple of grand, this will stock dresses at about £1,000."

All That Glitters, a bridal boutique based on Road, closed down a month ago, leaving many designers without a home for their dresses.

"When All That Glitters closed down I was approached by all the designers and asked if I was interested in stocking them.

"We have taken on Maggie who is a big designer based in America," he added.

"To be honest with you, it was a high cost of energy and electricity and the lack of parking for our customers that meant we had to close Cousins down," explained Mr Sotiriou.

"I already have a bridal store, so decided to open another. I want to cater for the whole market."

Mrs Sotiriou will oversee the new shop with her daughters. She said: "I am very excited about it.

"We are very busy and we would like to expand our family business."

Diana Sterck, chief executive of the Merton Chamber of Commerce welcomed the news.

She said: "Bringing independent businesses to the town centre and from businesses that are already very established in the town centre is a good thing."