The shortlist for the UK’s best fish and chip shops have been announced.
It comes ahead of this year’s National Fish and Chip Awards, which will be hosted by comedian Jason Manford.
Running for more than 30 years, the annual awards celebrate Britain’s top chippies from best takeaways to best newcomers, restaurants and suppliers.
There are 10 categories, including best newcomer, best takeaway and best restaurant.
Organised by The National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), this year’s awards will take place on February 23 at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge.
Andrew Crook, President at the NFFF, described this year’s host as a ‘firm family favourite, just like fish and chips. We’re so looking forward to celebrating.’
But does YOUR chippy make the list?
The shortlist for the UK’s best fish and chip shops have been announced. Stock image
Fish and Chip Takeaway of the Year
The top ten businesses shortlisted are:
Fisherman’s Bay in Whitley Bay
Fishermans Bay in Whitley Bay has been shortlisted for best Fish and Chip Takeaway of the Year
Run by the Dhillon family, Fisherman’s Bay has been serving the local community in Tyne and Wear for the last 25 years. Its cod is sustainably sourced and the chippy prides itself on using local source where it can.
On its takeaway menu, a cod and chips will set you back £10, haddock and chips £10.20 and a battered sausage £2.80.
Fish Kitchen 1854, Maesycwmmer, Caerphilly
The Fish Kitchen in Caerphilly has been shortlisted for best Fish and Chip Takeaway of the Year
This traditional family-run business sells freshly caught fish and chips. The 1854 in its name comes from being close to the Viaduct in Maesycwmmer.
It previously won in the Food Awards Wales 2022.
The takeaway was launched by Colin Newbery originally from Ystrad Mynach, a keen cyclist and railway enthusiast.
Its menu includes a large cod supper for £11.95, a steak and kidney pie supper for £5.95 and ten pieces of wholetail scampi for £6.50.
Whiteheads Fish and Chips, Hornsea, East Yorkshire
Whiteheads Fish and Chips, Hornsea, East Yorkshire has been shortlisted for best Fish and Chip Takeaway of the Year
Whitehead’s Fish & Chips has been run by the Whitehead family since 1997 with their takeaway a stone’s throw from the East Yorkshire coast.
A regular cod is £8.15, while a regular portion of chips costs £2.10. They have a range of pies including steak and kidney, beef and onion and chicken and mushroom. Or a regular sausage will set you back £1.25.
Customers have praised Whitehead’s Fish and Chips for its ‘freshly cooked food to order’ and ‘excellent service’.
Ship Deck, Trethomas, Caerphilly
Shipdeck, Trethomas, Caerphilly has been shortlisted for best Fish and Chip Takeaway of the Year
Partners Ryan and Kimberly Hughes opened Ship Deck three years ago after working in various chip shops in Rhondda Cynon Taff.
Mr Hughes won Young Fish Frier of the Year in 2019. He has been in the industry since the age of 15 and is described by his wife as the ‘bread and butter’ of the business.
A regular cod supper costs £10.70, a large battered sausage is £2 while an open cone of chips will set you back £2.15.
Reviews praise Ship Deck for its ‘excellent service and exceptionally good food’ as well as ‘plentiful’ portion sizes and good value for money.
The Bearded Sailor, Pudsey, Yorkshire
The Bearded Sailor, in Pudsey, Yorkshire has been shortlisted for best Fish and Chip Takeaway of the Year
The Bearded Sailor prides itself on sourcing sustainable produce, only selling fish from Icelandic Responsible Fisheries. It also uses sausages from a local supplier in Ilkley.
A regular fish and chips (haddock) will set you back£9, while a regular chips costs £3.15. There’s also a battered jumbo sausage for £2.75, and a range of specialty sandwiches served in a brioche bun.
Sandwich selections include battered halloumi, battered haddock strips and a Filet O’Sailor (haddock filet, cheese and homemade tartare sauce), all costing under £6.
- The Fish Bank, Elemet, West Yorkshire
- Low’s Traditional Fish & Chips, Westhill, Aberdeenshire
- The Oyster Shell, Bath, Somerset
- Auckley Friery, Auckley, Doncaster
- The Fish Works, Largs, North Ayrshi
Fish and Chip Restaurant of the Year
The top five businesses shortlisted are:
- The Cods Scallops, West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire
- Eric’s Fish and Chips, Thornham, Norfolk
- Fish City, Belfast, Antrim
- Henry’s of Hunstanton, Hunstanton, Norfolk
- Malt and Anchor, Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Best Newcomer
The Best Newcomer category celebrates businesses that started no earlier than January 2021.
The top three shortlisted are:
- Haughton Fish & Chips, Haughton, Staffordshire
- Lighthouse Fisheries Of Flamborough, Flamborough, East Yorkshire
- Hendo’s Fish & Chips, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Field to Frier
The Field to Frier category recognises businesses for their excellence in potato knowledge, care and chip preparation.
The top three shortlisted are:
- Pier Point Fish & Chips, Torquay, Devon
- Fiddlers Elbow Fish & Chips, Leintwardine, Herefordshire
- The Real Food Cafe, Tyndrum, Stirling
Mobile Operator
The Best Mobile Operator category celebrates businesses which operate mobile fish and chips vans or trailers and serve rural locations as well as catering for weddings and corporate events.
The top shortlisted are:
- Pimp My Fish, Burwell, Cambridgeshire
- The Hungry Plaice, Holbeach, Lincs
- The Chippie Van, Penrith, Cumbria
- Jojo’s Fish & Chips, Stafford, Staffordshire
- Country Fried, Langho, Lancashire
Staff training and development
This category recognises excellence in developing staff teams’ skills and qualifications.
The top three shortlisted are:
- Jacksons Fish and Chips, Newton Abbot, Devon
- Stones Fish and Chips, Acton, Ealing
- The Chesterford Group, Bishops Stortford, Herts
Multiple operator
The Best Multiple Operator category celebrates businesses which operate multiple fish and chips sites across the UK.
The top three shortlisted are:
- The Chesterford Group, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire
- Harlees Fish & Chips, Wimborne, Dorset
- Bells Fish & Chips, Framwellgate Moor, Durham
Quality Accreditation Champion
The Quality Accreditation category celebrates businesses throughout the UK that give their customers the best quality fish and chips.
The top three shortlisted are:
- Henleys of Wivenhoe, Colchester, Essex
- Ipswich Codfellas Group by Ozzie Bozdag, Ipswich, Suffolk
- The Fish Works, Largs, North Ayrshire
Environment and Sustainability Champion
The top three shortlisted are:
- Fish City, Belfast, Antrim
- Harbour Lights, Falmouth, Cornwall
- The Fish Works, Largs, North Ayrshire
Supplier of the year
The top five shortlisted are:
- Dennis Crooks
- Isle of Ely
- KFE Ltd
- Ceres
- Henry Colbecks