Tom Parker Bowles knows what he^s talking about.

As food editor of Esquire, Mr Parker Bowles and his team voted Colmans of South Shields the number one traditional chip shop in Britain.

Owner Richard Ord said: “This is another great coup for Colmans. To be number 1 in another national list is a great achievement for the business but it^s also a great honour to be able to help put South Tyneside on the map. 

“We go to great lengths to make sure our customers receive the very best tasting and sourced food on their plates and it’s fantastic to see the hard work of all our staff has once again paid off.”

The restaurant and takeaway has a long line of high profile figures who have given it the thumbs up. The list includes Britain’s Got Talent judge David Walliams, Hollywood actor Patrick Stewart and Tony Blair.

It has also picked up awards for the Best UK Takeaway in the BBC Radio 4 Food & Farming Awards, was UKTV Gary Rhodes Local Food Heroes National Winner and won The National Fish and Chip Awards Good Catch Award for sustainability.

The magazine said of the popular Ocean Road eatery: “Colmans is the coastal town chippy you remember from childhood, and it’s brilliant.

“Run by Richard and Frances, the fourth generation of Colmans to fry fish at South Shields, it’s all white-tiled walls and chalk boards showing the catch of the day.

“Colmans, whose impressive fan base includes Bill Bryson, Alison Steadman and Lord Mandelson was rated best in the UK at The National Fish & Chip Awards in 2011.”

Colmans of South Shields was also the only fish and chip shop in the north east to be named in the list.