Five fish and chip restaurants hope for first ‘plaice’ at industry awards

The National Fish & Chip Awards has confirmed the reservation of five fish and chip shop businesses for the finals in its Restaurant of the Year category.

Fish and chip restaurants in County Durham, Devon, Gloucestershire, London, and Tyne and Wear have earned a seat at the table following months of gruelling tasks, interviews and inspections by industry specialists who at next year’s awards ceremony will crown one of them as the best in the sector.

The National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) organises the awards and the notoriously comprehensive assessments entrants undertake are vital for unearthing where the opportunities are to set new benchmarks in the industry and to encourage bigger goal setting for those taking part.

Up next for the challengers is the mystery visits portion of the competition, which will be the decider for who will receive the distinguished title. The finalists heading to London where the winning restaurant will be announced on 26 February at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, are:  

County Durham

Bells Fish & Chips (Framwellgate Moor), Durham

Devon

Pier Point, Torquay

Gloucestershire

Malt and Anchor, Cirencester

London

Toff’s of Muswell Hill (The Chesterford Group)

Tyne and Wear

Trenchers Spanish City, Whitley Bay

President of the National Federation of Fish Friers Andrew Crook says: “The choice available in the restaurant space means fish and chip operators must pull out all the stops to standout and attract customers. We can safely say that we have found a group of business owners that are very accomplished in doing that and a whole lot more! Our finalists have such detailed focus on product refinement and skills honing that they are creating high-end fish and chips and dining experiences that can’t be denied. What a final Restaurant of the Year is going to be!”

The category is sponsored by the Q Partnership, three independent, family-owned businesses – Friars Pride, Henry Colbeck and V.A. Whitley – which supply the UK fish and chip industry with goods and services.

Luke Townsend, marketing manager at Friars Pride, comments: “A massive congratulations to the top five fish and chip restaurants! It is an amazing achievement to make it this far in the process, which has had many fantastic restaurants entering. These top five shops highlight the high standards and quality of fish and chips within the industry, as do the other entrants to the award.  

“At Friars Pride we are proud to continue to support the National Fish & Chip Awards, and this year, along with the Q Partnership, we are delighted to be the sponsors of the Restaurant of the Year category.”

Georgina Colbeck, director at Henry Colbeck, is thrilled for the finalists: “High five to the top five fish and chip restaurants! Our precious industry deserves to receive all the great PR that will come from the National Fish & Chip Awards – and with these five worthy ambassadors in the spotlight for the finals, we’re in great hands! #ProudSponsors.”

Tickets for the National Fish and Chip Awards 2025 are available now, so get yours today before they ‘fry’ off the shelves. https://thefishandchipawards.com/event-tickets/

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