UK chippies vie for top honour

The National Fish & Chip Awards has announced its top 40 contenders for the prized Takeaway of the Year category, with Seafood from Norway serving as principal sponsor.

Selected from entries across the UK, the businesses impressed judges through food quality, customer service, industry expertise and commitment to sustainable practices. The finalists represent fish and chip-loving communities nationwide and now progress to the next stage of assessments in the 39th year of the awards.

“As we celebrate the 39th year of the National Fish & Chip Awards, it’s brilliant to see talent, passion, excellent professionalism and dedication to their craft on display,” said Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers, which runs the awards.

“Every year, the Takeaway of the Year standard continues to rise and this new list of top 40 contenders exemplify that.”

Nominees

Bristol: Bishopston Fish Bar and Jolly Fryer; Devon: Chippies Plaice, Newton Abbot, and Taffs Fish and Chips, Torrington; Dorset: Somewhere Else Fishy, Sherborne; Essex: The Hook of Halstead; Greater Manchester: Taylors, Stockport; Hampshire: Berties, New Milton, Best Fry, Southampton, Mike’s Traditional Fish and Chips, Eastleigh, and Mister Pink’s, Milford-on-Sea; Hertfordshire: The Corner Plaice, Rickmansworth; Lancashire: The Cottage, Blackpool; Lincolnshire: Catch 22, Tattershall, Linfords Fish and Chips, Market Deeping, and Pips Chips, Cleethorpes; London: Chipping Wharf Fish & Chips, Bow, Fish! Kitchen, Southwark, and Skipjacks, Harrow; Merseyside: The Good Catch (Freshfield), Liverpool; Norfolk: Grosvenor Fish Bar, Norwich; Nottinghamshire: Angell’s Fisheries, Newark; Oxfordshire: Harrison’s Fish & Chip Co., Oxford; Somerset: Knights Fish Restaurant, Glastonbury; Suffolk: Tulula’s Fish & Chips, Halesworth; Surrey: The Hake, Weybridge, and Seafare Guildford; Yorkshire: The Fish Bank, Sherburn-in-Elmet; County Antrim: Browns Award Winning Fish and Chips, Belfast, and Merchant Fish and Chips, Ballymena; County Down: The Frying Squad (Balloo), Bangor, and McCann’s Fish & Chips, Newcastle; Aberdeenshire: Garioch Fish Bar, Inverurie, and Lows Traditional Fish & Chips (Westhill), Aberdeen; Ayrshire: Enzo’s Fish and Chips, Irvine, and The Fish Works, Largs; Inverness-shire: Hilton Chip Shop, Inverness, and Monster Fish & Chips Co., Fort Augustus; Powys: Hennighan’s Fish & Chips Bottom Shop, Machynlleth; and Vale of Glamorgan: Farnhams Fish and Chips (Boverton), Llantwit Major.

Judges will assess product quality, hygiene, environmental and operational sustainability, customer service and industry knowledge. Only 20 businesses will advance to the semi-finals, with the top 10 due to be revealed in the coming months.

The current titleholder, Aman Dhesi, co-owner of The Scrap Box in York, said winning had delivered a major boost and encouraged this year’s contenders to embrace the process and showcase what makes their businesses distinctive.

The awards ceremony will take place on 24 February at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London, when the new Takeaway of the Year winner will be announced. Entry is free, and participants receive tailored feedback highlighting strengths and areas for improvement.