National Fish & Chip Awards reveals UK’s top 40 takeaways

The top 40 fish and chip shop contenders for the prized Takeaway of the Year category have been officially announced by the National Fish & Chip Awards with Seafood from Norway as principal sponsor

Selected from entries across the UK, the businesses in the longlist have impressed judges with their outstanding food quality, customer service, industry expertise and commitment to sustainable practices. Representing fish and chip-loving communities, these exceptional takeaways now move one step closer to claiming one of the highest honours in the fish and chip industry, as the search for the nation’s best chippy gathers pace.

The awards are now in their 39th year and continue to lead the way in elevating industry standards and encouraging innovation. This year, there are 14 categories for national and international businesses to enter, which includes the hotly contested Restaurant of the Year, Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Field to Frier, Mobile Operator of the Year, Environment and Sustainable Business, and of course, one of the profession’s ultimate distinctions - Takeaway of the Year.

The Takeaway of the Year category is proudly supported by some of the biggest names in the fish and chip sector. Their backing helps recognise the hard work and ambition of operators delivering fantastic food experiences for communities.

This year the sponsors are BD Signs, Friars Pride, Henry Colbeck, McWhinney’s Sausages, Seafood from Iceland, Smales and V.A. Whitley.

The top 40 takeaways

with eyes on the prize are:

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England

Bristol - Bishopston Fish Bar, Jolly Fryer

Devon - Chippies Plaice, Newton Abbot, 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, 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, Pips Chips, Cleethorpes

London - Chipping Wharf Fish & Chips, Bow, Fish! Kitchen, Southwark, 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,  Seafare Guildford

Yorkshire - The Fish Bank, Sherburn-in-Elmet

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Northern Ireland

County Antrim - Browns Award Winning Fish and Chips, Belfast, Merchant Fish and Chips, Ballymena

County Down - The Frying Squad (Balloo), Bangor, McCann’s Fish & Chips, Newcastle

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Scotland

Aberdeenshire - Garioch Fish Bar, Inverurie, Lows Traditional Fish & Chips (Westhill), Aberdeen

Ayrshire - Enzo’s Fish and Chips, Irvine, The Fish Works, Largs

Inverness-shire - Hilton Chip Shop, Inverness,     Monster Fish & Chips Co., Fort Augustus

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Wales

Powys - Hennighan’s Fish & Chips Bottom Shop, Machynlleth

Vale of Glamorgan - Farnhams Fish and Chips (Boverton),

Llantwit Major

Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), which runs the awards, comments: “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.  Every year, the Takeaway of the Year standard continues to rise and this new list of top 40 contenders exemplify that.”

Andrew continues: “This year we are particularly keen to shine a light on the opportunities our industry offers, from developing lifelong skills to fulfilling dreams of running a successful business. It’s a sector that rewards hard work and creates genuine career satisfaction for professionals from all walks of life. We’re proud to champion the next generation of talent as they build on the achievements of those who have come before them and help shape the future of fish and chips.

Good luck to everyone who makes it through to the next stage, and we can’t wait to see the results next February at the awards.”

The competition’s judges, which is made up of sector specialists, longlisted the 40 businesses to progress to the next round of assessments for the UK’s most prestigious awards of its kind.

The hopefuls will undergo a comprehensive evaluation covering product quality, hygiene, environmental and operational sustainability, customer service, and industry knowledge and more. This ensures the highest standards are upheld from behind-the-scenes operations to the customer experience. Entry is free, and all participants receive tailored feedback recognising their strengths and identifying opportunities for improvement.

Aman Dhesi, co-owner of The Scrap Box in York, Yorkshire, which is the current Takeaway of the Year titleholder says: “More than six months on from winning, we’re still seeing the impact of the award. It gave the business a huge boost, as did reaching the top 10 the year before but probably the biggest thing has been the opportunities it’s opened up for us outside the shop, from media and travel to meeting people across the industry and getting involved in some really exciting projects.”

Only 20 will make it to the next stage, which is the semi-finals. The Top 10 will be revealed in a couple months’ time, and the awards ceremony will take place on 24 February at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London, where the new winner will be announced.

Björgvin Þór Björgvinsson, Project Manager for Seafood from Iceland says “The top 40 is a fantastic recognition of the passion and commitment that fish and chip businesses across the UK bring to their craft every day. Behind every great portion of fish and chips is a focus on quality, from carefully sourced seafood to the skill and care that goes into preparing and serving it.

“At Seafood from Iceland, we are proud to support an industry that values quality seafood and the people and stories behind it. Congratulations to all 40 businesses on reaching this stage of the competition. We wish them the very best as the awards progress and look forward to celebrating their achievements along the way.”

Bjørn-Erik Stabell, UK Director of the Norwegian Seafood Council added “The businesses named in this year’s top 40 represent some of the very best fish and chip operators in the UK. Their dedication to quality seafood, customer experience and high standards helps ensure that fish and chips remain one of the nation’s favourite meals.

Seafood from Norway s proud to support an industry that introduces consumers to great seafood every day. Congratulations to all those who have reached this stage, and we look forward to seeing how the competition develops as the awards continue to recognise excellence across the sector.”

For more information and bits on the National Fish & Chip Awards, please visit: www.thefishandchipawards.com.