Up and down the country, purveyors of one of the nation’s favourite dishes have been standing at their chip fryers with ‘baited’ breath awaiting the results.
Now, the UK’s top 10 fish and chip shops have been revealed as part of the 30th anniversary National Fish & Chip Awards – regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the industry.
To make this final stage of the Fish and Chip Shop of the Year, the shops have had their frying skills put to the test as well as being assessed on sustainable sourcing policies, and menu development and innovation.
Only two questions remain: who will be crowned No. 1… and are they near where you live?
Cromars Classic Fish & Chips, St Andrews, Fife (Scotland)
The Dolphin Takeaway, Dungannon, County Tyrone (Northern Ireland)
Millers Fish & Chips, Haxby, York, North Yorkshire (North East England)
Fylde Fish Bar, Marshside, Southport, Merseyside (North West England)
The Golden Carp Chippy, Redditch, Worcestershire (Midlands)
Burton Road Chippy, Lincoln, Lincolnshire (Eastern England)
Henley’s of Wivenhoe, Wivenhoe, Colchester, Essex (London & South East England)
Captain’s Fish and Chips, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire (Central & Southern England)
Harbourside Fish & Chips, Plymouth, Devon (South & West England)
Penaluna’s Famous Fish & Chips, Hirwaun, Rhonda Cynon Taff (Wales)
The 10 businesses have been shortlisted for the Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Award, one of 15 categories in the 2018 National Fish & Chip Awards.
Marcus Coleman, Chief Executive at Seafish, which has organised the contest, said: ‘Having watched our 10 finalists progress through the competition, I can safely say that their skill and dedication is outstanding – they are a true representation of the crème de la crème of our industry and sum up perfectly why British fish and chips are, and will always be, the best in the world.’
Speaking of their success in last year’s awards, reigning champions Nikki Mutton and Craig Maw of Kingfisher Fish & Chips in Plympton, Plymouth, Devon, added: ‘We were absolutely elated when we won the title of best fish and chip shop as part of the 2017 National Fish & Chip Awards.
‘We’ve been so busy serving our brilliant customers that we’ve actually had to hire more than 10 new members of staff since winning the title in January.’
The overall winner of the Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Award will be announced at The National Fish & Chip Awards’ 30th anniversary ceremony in London on January 25, 2018.