Two Teesside chip shops in the running for big award
They're the only chippys nominated in the North East
Forty of the UK’s best fish and chip shops are ready to ‘batter’ it out to gain the acclaimed Takeaway of the Year title as the category shortlist for the National Fish & Chip Awards 2025 is announced.
Organised by the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), the awards provide an ‘oppor-tuna-ty’ for fish and chip outlets across the UK to show the industry exactly what they are made of. However, the process isn’t easy and includes a meticulous set of tasks, challenges and interviews covering industry awareness, product knowledge, environmental and sustainability best practice, employer responsibilities, customer service, and more.
A panel of fish and chip experts have had the tough task of assessing the impressive takeaways that entered and while those shortlisted have already been making waves in the competition, the awards process will stretch them in many ways to ensure that these standout businesses set a new precedence for quality and industry standards.
President of the NFFF, Andrew Crook, says the category has seen many fantastic submissions. “Fish and chips is such an iconic British staple and it takes huge amounts of skill and hard work to not only perfect the dish and other menu offerings but to also overcome challenges and sustain the business while keeping employees motivated and fulfilled. There’s a lot to it and each awards season we see greater depths of talent, expertise and business acumen and this trend has continued this year, too.
“Takeaway of the Year is the big one, so it goes without saying that the journey it takes contenders on is very intense. At each stage learnings and recommendations are provided to encourage the hopefuls to keep pushing forward and that’s why the National Fish & Chip Awards is seen as the competition for chip shop owners that want the additional steer to become better than they were before. We’re off to a brilliant start and we’re excited for the next rounds and to honour these deserving people.”
The category is sponsored by BDSigns, Florigo, Friars Pride, Henry Colbeck, McWhinneys, Seafood from Iceland and V A Whitley. Barry Dickman, Director & Founder of BDSigns & BDigital, comments: "As a prolific supplier of signage, branding, and digital solutions to the fish and chip industry, along with many other brands, we are proud to be sponsoring the Takeaway of the Year category. For over 25 years, we’ve been dedicated supporters and sponsors of this event, with more than 80% of past winners counted as our customers. We truly love this industry and wish everyone a competitive hoorah with a wizz, bang, and fizz of fun!"
Seafood from Iceland’s Project Manager Björgvin Þór Björgvinsson, adds: “The seafood industry is really important for Iceland´s economy, more than 40% of export value is seafood products. The UK is the most important market for Icelandic seafood products and has been for ages. Land-frozen and frozen-at-sea fillets are the most important product groups from Iceland to the UK, and the species are primarily cod and haddock. The frozen-at-sea products are mainly sold into the fish and chip sector.
“Importers and distributors in the UK that are buying the Icelandic fish know all about this reliable, quality sustainable sourced fish from Iceland. The UK consumer on the other hand usually doesn’t know about the origin of their favourite seafood dish which often comes from Iceland. Seafood from Iceland is excited to be a Takeaway of the Year sponsor and to have the opportunity to work with the fish and chip industry and educate the consumer with the purpose to raise awareness toward Icelandic fish.”
Robert Fernandes, Marketing Manager at V.A. Whitley comments: “As proud sponsors of this great award category, we would like to congratulate all entrants on achieving the consistently high standards which have brought them this far. The standard of operators in the fish and chip world continues to rise and it is great to see.
“These awards drive high standards and demonstrate what great support there is from all areas of our industry, with the common aim of ensuring that this wonderful trade continues to flourish across the country by offering quality fish, chips and mushy peas for all to enjoy!
“V.A. Whitley has been delivering excellent service and quality products to the fish and chip trade in England and Wales for over 125 years. We would like to take this opportunity to wish all entrants the very best of luck going forward.”
The Takeaway of the Year shortlisted chip shops hoping to be catch of the day are:
Cornwall
Kellaway’s Fish and Chips, Truro
County Durham
Yarm Road Fish and Chips, Darlington
Devon
Taffs Fish and Chips, Torrington
Dorset
The Forum Frier, Blandford Forum
Essex
The Hook of Clacton, Clacton-on-Sea
Greater Manchester
Taylors, Stockport
Hampshire
Mike’s Traditional Fish & Chips, Eastleigh
Kent
Newington Fish Bar, Ramsgate
Lancashire
Farington Chippy, Leyland
Westend Fish and Chips, Oswaldtwistle
Leicestershire
Frydales (Hinckley Road), Leicester
Lincolnshire
Elite on the Bail, Lincoln
Linfords Traditional Fish and Chips, Market Deeping
London
Brockley’s Rock, Brockley
Stones Fish and Chips, Acton
Norfolk
French’s Fish Shop, Wells-next-the-Sea
Nottinghamshire
Angell’s Fisheries, Newark-on-Trent
Oxfordshire
Harrison’s Fish & Chip Co., Oxford
Somerset
The Oyster Shell, Bath
Surrey
Seafare Guildford
Teesside
Robinsons Traditional Fish and Chips, Billingham
West Midlands
Hawthorn Fish Bar, Birmingham
Yorkshire
The Fish Bank, Sherburn-in-Elmet
Locker’s Fish & Chips, Redcar
Mister C’s, Selby
The Scrap Box, York
Two Gates Fisheries, Barnsley
Scotland
Aberdeenshire
Carron Fish Bar, Stonehaven
Garioch Fish Bar, Inverurie
Lows Traditional Fish & Chips (Berryden), Aberdeen
Mike’s Famous Fish & Chips (Blackburn), Aberdeen
Redcloak Fish Bar, Stonehaven
Sea Salt + Sole, Aberdeen
Ayrshire
The Fish Works, Largs
Fife
The Wee Chippy, Anstruther
Perthshire
McKays Fish & Chip Shop, Pitlochry
Inverness-shire
Hilton Chip Shop, Inverness
Wales
Anglesey
Finney’s Fish and Chips, Benllech
Glamorgan
Posh Fish and Chips (Llandaff), Cardiff
Zero Plus Fish & Chips, Cardiff
Principal sponsor of the National Fish & Chip Awards 2025 is Seafood from Norway, and Victoria Braathen, UK Director of the Norwegian Seafood Council, says: “As a proud sponsor of the National Fish & Chip Awards, we’re thrilled to see this competition, year after year, attract such an outstanding pool of talented operators. It’s undeniable that fish and chips hold a special place in British culture, but it’s the passion and commitment to excellence that these operators demonstrate daily that gives this sector its truly iconic status.
“Norway is dedicated to ensuring that the seafood we provide is of the highest quality, and it’s wonderful to see that reflected in the standards these finalists clearly uphold. Seafood from Norway, representing the Norwegian seafood industry, is excited to continue supporting the fish and chip sector and to celebrate the best of the best at this year’s awards. Congratulations to all those who made it to the top 40, we wish you the very best of luck!”
The next round will see the official board of judges chopping the list down to 20 and then to the final 10. The National Fish & Chip Awards ceremony on 26 February at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London, is where the new winner will be announced.