The UK’s 60 top fish and chip shops have been revealed today making up the shortlist for the Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Award, the flagship category in the 2020 National Fish & Chip Awards.

The full shortlist can be seen below or at https://www.seafish.org/article/finalists-and-winners

Organised by Seafish, the public body that supports the £10bn UK seafood industry, The National Fish & Chip Awards are the UK’s premier awards for fish and chips. The awards recognise outstanding businesses across the country that are serving incredible fish and chips and providing excellent customer service. Shortlisted businesses have gone above and beyond to secure their place in the shortlist stage of the competition and showcase the nation’s favourite takeaway dish.

It’s not just about food quality, there are a wide variety of additional factors that make these businesses outstanding, including:

• Excellence in the sustainable sourcing of key ingredients
• Staff training and development policies and opportunities for young people
• Creation of  innovative menu options for those with allergies and dietary requirements

There are a number of rigorous judging stages to be named the best fish and chip shop in the UK including mystery shopping visits to shops, full business performance audits of premises followed by  presentations to an industry judging panel. The UK Top 60 shops will now go forward to the next round of judging in a bid to make the UK Top 20 shortlist stage.

Fish and chips is the healthiest of the traditional takeaways providing an excellent source of protein, and many essential vitamins and minerals. A portion of fish and chips can also contribute towards 1 of the recommended 5 a day portions of fruit and vegetables, if mushy peas are included, and is one of the recommended two portions of fish a week that we should all be eating as part of balanced diet. 

Fish and chip shops cater to a diverse range of lifestyle and health choices with small portions, gluten free options and various types of fish widely available. Innovation is key for many businesses, with fish and chip shops constantly evolving and adding options. 

Marcus Coleman, Chief Executive Officer at Seafish, said: “Every summer we look forward to starting our search for the UK’s best fish and chip shop and this award showcases the best in the business. Shops have been entering the competition since May and these Top 60 takeaways have demonstrated real commitment to quality in all areas and worked tirelessly to earn their place on this list. I would recommend a visit to them all!

“There’s a diverse wealth of talent to be seen across the Top 60, and we wish them all the best in the next round as we know each one of them gives it everything they have.”  

The winner of the Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Award will be announced at The National Fish & Chip Awards’ 32nd anniversary ceremony in London on 23 January 2020.

60 businesses have been shortlisted across 10 judging regions: Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, North East England, North West England, Midlands, Eastern England, London & South East England, Central & Southern England and South West England.

It’s not too late for fish and chip businesses to apply for the 2020 awards. There are a number of award categories still open for entry, including Staff Training and Development, Menu Innovation and Development, Marketing Innovation, NFFF Quality Award Champion, Field to Frier Award, Foodservice Operator of the Year and Best Seafood Week Campaign.

Top 60 Shortlist 

North East England

• Hirds Family Fisheries, Halifax
• Hook and Line, Leeds
• Land and Sea, Thirsk
• Sidhu Fish and Chips, Wallsend
• The Bearded Sailor, Leeds
• Whitby's Restaurant and Takeaway, Rotherham

Midlands

• Andy's Fish Bar, Swadlincote
• Fiddlers Elbow, Leintwardine
• Oldswinford Fish and Chips, Stourbridge
• The Chip Shed, Warwick
• The Golden Carp Chippy, Redditch
• Winyates Chippy, Redditch
• Wollaston Fish Bar, Stourbridge

East of England

• Cox's at the Lighthouse, St. Neots
• French's Fish and Chips, Norfolk
• Frydales, Leicester
• Plattens Fish and Chips, Norfolk
• The Cods Scallops, Nottingham
• Traditional Fish and Chips, St. Neots
• Wellies Fish and Chips, Grantham 

Northern Ireland

• Dolphin Takeaway, Dungannon
• Molloy's Fish and Chips, Downpatrick
• The Frying Squad, Bangor
• The Salt House, Bangor

North West England

• Angel Lane Chippie, Penrith
• Fish and Chips at Weston Grove, Chester
• Frydays of Kendal, Kendal
• Shap Chippy, Penrith
• The Big Blue, Warrington
• The Codfather, Northwich

London & South East

• Belmont Bay Fish Bar, Harrow
• Brockley's Rock, London
• Henley's of Wivenhoe, Colchester
• MyChippy, London
• Newington Fish Bar, Ramsgate
• Seafare, Guildford
• Stone's Fish and Chips, London

Central & Southern England

• Arlesey Fish and Chips, Arlesey
• Luci and Lina Fish Bar, Bedford
• Mike's Traditional Fish and Chips, Eastleigh
• Walnut Tree Traditional Fish and Chips, Milton Keynes

South West England

• Bishopston Fish Bar, Bristol
• Fish 'N' Fritz, Weymouth
• Harbour Lights, Falmouth
• Lakeside, Poole
• Rockfish, Brixham
• White Row Fish and Chips, Frome

Wales

• Hiks Fish Bar, Swansea
• Hooked at 31, Fishguard
• Shillingfords, Neath
• Simply Fish and Chips, Denbeigh
• West End Fish and Chips, Carmarthen
• Yans Fish Bar, Cardiff

Scotland

• Carron Fish Bar, Stonehaven
• Catch Fish and Chips, Giffnock
• Dolphin Fish and Chips, Macduff
• Catch Fish and Chips - West End, Glasgow
• Lows Traditional Fish and Chips, Aberdeen
• The Fish Works, Largs
• Sea Salt and Sole