The National Fish and Chip Awards give a good insight into quality and service, and this year sees seven Scottish fish and chip shops shortlisted
The 2020 National Fish & Chip Awards recently revealed the top UK chippies, with a shortlist of 60 takeaways.
Carron Fish Bar, Stonehaven, Grampian
Dolphin Fish and Chips, Macduff, Grampian
Lows Traditional Fish & Chips, Aberdeen, Grampian
Sea Salt + Sole, Aberdeen, Grampian
The Fish Works, Largs, Ayrshire
Catch Fish and Chips - Giffnock, Glasgow
Catch Fish and Chips - West End, Glasgow
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; and 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.
Picture: 2019 winners Tim & Kelly Barnes from Krispies
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 thought to be a healthy, occasional treat thanks to its excellent source of protein and provision of vitamins and minerals.
A portion of fish and chips can also contribute towards one of the recommended five 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 are 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.
Carron Fish Bar - Stonehaven
Catch Fish and Chips - Giffnock - Glasgow
Catch Fish and Chips - West End - Glasgow
Dolphin Fish and Chips, Macduff
Lows Traditional Fish & Chips - Aberdeen
Sea salt and sole - Aberdeen
The Fish Works - Largs
Hiks - Swansea
HOOKED @ 31 - Fishguard
Shillingfords - Neath
Simply Fish and Chips - Denbigh
West End Fish and Chips - Carmarthen
Yans Fish Bar - Cardiff
Dolphin Takeaway - Dungannon
Molloy's Fish and Chips - Downpatrick
The Frying Squad - Bangor
The Salt House - Bangor
Hirds Family Fisheries - Halifax
Hook & Line - Leeds
Land & Sea - Thirsk
Sidhu Fish and Chips - Wallsend
The Bearded Sailor - Leeds
Whitby's Restaurant & Take Away - Rotherham
Angel Lane Chippie - Penrith
Fish and Chips @ Weston Grove - Chester
Frydays of Kendal - Kendal
Shap Chippy - Penrith
The Big Blue - Warrington
The Codfather - Northwich
Andy's Fish Bar - Swadlincote
Fiddlers Elbow - Leintwardine
Oldswinford Fish & Chips - Stourbridge
The Chip Shed Warwick - Warwick
The Golden Carp Chippy - Redditch
Winyates Chippy - Redditch
Wollaston Fish Bar - Stourbridge
Cox’s at The Lighthouse - St Neots
French's Fish Shop - Wells-next-the-Sea
Frydales - Leicester
Plattens Fish and chips - Wells-next-the-Sea
The Cods Scallops - Nottingham
Traditional Fish & Chips - St Neots
Wellies Fish & Chips - Grantham
Belmont Bay Fish Bar - Harrow
Brockley's Rock - London
Henley's of Wivenhoe - Colchester
MyChippy.com - London
Newington Fish Bar - Ramsgate
Seafare Guildford - Guildford
Stone's Fish and Chips - London
Arlesey Fish and Chips - Arlesey
Luci & Lina Fish Bar - Bedford
Mike's Traditional Fish & Chips - Eastleigh
Walnut Tree Traditional Fish and Chips - Milton Keynes
Bishopston Fish Bar - Bristol
Fish 'n' Fritz - Weymouth
Harbour Lights - Falmouth
Lakeside Poole - Poole
Rockfish, Brixham - Brixham
White Row Fish & Chip Shop - Frome
