Young Devon fish fryers shortlisted among the best in the country
They're in the Young Fish Fryer of the Year category at the National Fish and Chip awards
Two young fish fryers from Devon have been shortlisted as among the best in the country.
Sebastian Harding-Cook, who works at Squire's in Braunton, and Charlie James from Pier Point Fish and Chips in Torquay are nominated in the National Fish and Chip awards.
They're in the Young Fish Frier of the Year category, which is open to under 25s who've caught the judges' attention.
In total, Twelve candidates from UK fish and chip shops making a splash in the industry have been shortlisted for the acclaimed Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year Award at the National Fish & Chip Awards 2025.
Representing the best upcoming talent is a group of 12 ‘pro-fish-ionals’ - all aged 25 or under with a minimum of six months’ frying experience – who have caught the attention of the judging panel for their sound understanding of how to cook fish and chips consistently well.
In the next stage they'll be assessed by experts who will grade them on criteria including their fish and batter preparation, oil temperature control and frying technique.
The young friers who impress the panel enough to make the final round of judging will then face an in-depth judging visit at their place of work.
Hoping to progress further and claim the coveted title are:
- Abigail Barker – Millers Fish & Chips in Haxby (near York), Yorkshire
- Kieran Bulpit – Linfords Traditional Fish & Chips in Market Deeping, Lincolnshire
- Courtney Clifford – St Annes Fish Restaurant in St Annes-on-the-Sea, Lancashire
- James Ellams - Fish & Chips @ Weston Grove in Chester, Cheshire
- Sebastian Harding Crook – Squires in Braunton, Devon
- Charlie James – Pier Point Fish & Chips in Torquay, Devon
- Charlotte Jones – Finneys Amlwch in Anglesey, Wales
- Scott Kendrew – Millers Fish & Chips in Haxby (near York), Yorkshire
- Charlie Knox – The Carron in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
- Georgia Lye – Seafare Guilford in Surrey
- Sebastian Miller – Linfords Traditional Fish & Chips in Market Deeping, Lincolnshire
- Glen Morrison – Garioch Fish Bar in Inverurie, Scotland
Managing Director of Drywite Ltd said: “We are very pleased to be running the Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year competition again in 2025. We always find the calibre of young talent coming through the industry amazing and all twelve of those shortlisted this year have the potential to really drive their fish and chip careers forward in the future.
“Having started his working life as a potato boy in a fish and chip shop, my father Malcolm Lee remained very closely involved with fish and chips and always encouraged young people to make a career in the industry. So, in 1995, my late sister Briar Wilkinson and I established Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year in his memory. It will be a great thrill to present the Malcolm Lee Trophy to this year’s winner at the National Fish & Chip Awards in London and for Drywite Limited to become part of their career story.”
Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), and awards organiser, comments: “The Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year is such an amazing category as we get to witness the candidates blossoming in confidence and coming into their own. They are the future of the industry and it’s our responsibility to provide opportunities for people to receive individual feedback and encouragement from those that know the business inside out. We’re excited to see how they put their knowledge into practice for the live frying task.”
The National Fish & Chip Awards 2025 will take place on 26 February at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London.