Frankie’s Fish & Chips in Brae, Shetland, Scotland, is officially the best fish and chip shop in the UK, after being crowned Independent Takeaway Fish and Chip Shop of the Year at the 2015 National Fish & Chip Awards.
To earn its spot at the top, Frankie’s Fish & Chips went through a rigorous, multi-stage judging process - culminating in a presentation to a panel of industry judges by the top 10 finalists representing respective parts of the UK.
Valerie Johnson, owner of Frankie’s Fish & Chips, said: “We now get to go home to Shetland and say that our fish and chips are the best in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales - without exception. How amazing is that. This is the highlight of my working life. I can’t thank Seafish and my brilliant team enough. You’re a credit to the seafood industry. 2015 is Frankie’s year.”
The final 10 places were shortlisted during earlier judging rounds which included unannounced shop visits from industry judges. They were assessed on a wide variety of judging criteria including product quality, sustainable sourcing policies, marketing initiatives and customer service.
Paul Williams, chief executive of awards organiser Seafish, said, “Frankie’s Fish & Chips stood out throughout the judging process. Their passion and determination has to be admired. I would like to offer my warmest congratulations and wish them the best success in the future.”
In addition to wining the top prize, Frankie’s also won the Good Catch – The Sustainable Seafood Award. Sponsored by MSC and MCS, this category recognises fish and chip businesses that are leading the way in the sourcing and promotion of sustainable fish and shellfish, working to protect supplies so they are available for future generations to enjoy.
