‘Fry’ and stop them! Meet the UK’s best young professional fish friers

The time is getting closer for finding out who the recipient of the Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year title will be as the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) – organiser of the National Fish & Chip Awards – announces the final four category contenders.

The Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year award celebrates the new generation of talented professionals who are passionate about taking the UK fish and chip industry to the next level.

It has been quite the competition for the group, who are all aged 25 or under with at least six months’ unsupervised frying experience. The exceptional hopefuls have faced a series of rounds including interviews, which confirmed their passion and dedication to the mastery of fish frying, sound understanding of best practice and leadership potential. The extensive, in-person assessments at their respective places of work turned up the heat on their performance, examining their knowledge, preparation and cooking skills, and of course the quality of the fish and chips they cooked.

These are the outstanding finalists representing the best of what’s to come in the sector:

• Abigail Barker – Millers Fish & Chips in Haxby (near York), Yorkshire
• James Ellams – Fish & Chips @ Weston Grove in Chester, Cheshire
• Sebastian Harding Crook – Squires in Braunton, Devon
• Glen Morrison – Garioch Fish Bar in Inverurie, Scotland

Drywite Ltd, which sponsors the coveted award, is a leading supplier of training and products for the fish frying industry. Its Managing Director Kelvin Lee says: “Having run the first Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year competition in 1995, we are very proud that 30 years later the competition is still attracting a very high calibre of contestant and this year’s finalists have all proved to be exceptional young friers who are sure to make a name for themselves in the fish frying industry.”

Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), comments: “Once again the judges have been astounded by the calibre of people that have entered the category. The Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year award is a platform for us to nurture, inspire and encourage young individuals to fully embrace a career in the fish and chip business and to realise the many opportunities and experiences available. Our finalists epitomise everything the industry stands for and there’s much excitement for their imminent rise in the trade.”

The National Fish & Chip Awards 2025 will take place on 26 February at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London where we’ll learn who the successor of the Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year 2024 champion, Jamie Russo from Redcloak Fish Bar in Stonehaven, will be.

Be sure to get tickets for the fish and chip industry’s most prestigious event: https://thefishandchipawards.com/event-tickets/. For more information and bits on the National Fish & Chip Awards, please visit: www.thefishandchipawards.com.