There’s nothing quite like fish ‘n’ chips. It’s arguably the UK’s national dish – although roast dinner and chicken tikka masala are also in the running – and is beloved by every Brit, even somewhere as cut off from the sea as Birmingham. Which is what makes The National Fish & Chip Awards so hotly contested. And this year, one Birmingham chippy has made the shortlist for the acclaimed ‘Takeaway of the Year’ category.
Organised by the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), the award is the plaice for fish ‘n’ chip shops across the UK to show off! The process includes a meticulous set of tasks, challenges and interviews covering industry awareness, product knowledge, environmental and sustainability best practices, employer responsibilities, customer service, and more. A panel of fish and chip experts will challenge the impressive takeaways to set a new standard for quality.
“Takeaway of the Year is the big one, so the journey it takes contenders on is very intense,” says President of the NFFF, Andrew Crook. “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 who want the additional steer to become better than they were before.”
Out of 40 chippies in the running for ‘Takeaway of the Year’, only one is from the West Midlands. Hawthorn Fish Bar is a family-run business that’s been serving traditional fish and chips since 1982. What sets it apart from the school is how uniquely Brummie it is – with Indian snack boxes and ‘battered’ chips on the menu.
The next round will see the judges slice the list in half to 20 and then to the final 10. Taking the crown from the current champion, Caerphilly-based Ship Deck, the winner will be announced at The National Fish & Chip Awards ceremony on February 26. For more information on the National Fish & Chip Awards head here.
The National Fish & Chip Awards’ Takeaway of the Year shortlist:
Kellaway’s Fish and Chips, Truro
Yarm Road Fish and Chips, Darlington
Taffs Fish and Chips, Torrington
The Forum Frier, Blandford Forum
The Hook of Clacton, Clacton-on-Sea
Taylors, Stockport
Mike’s Traditional Fish & Chips, Eastleigh
Newington Fish Bar, Ramsgate
Farington Chippy, Leyland
Westend Fish and Chips, Oswaldtwistle
Frydales (Hinckley Road), Leicester
Elite on the Bail, Lincoln
Linfords Traditional Fish and Chips, Market Deeping
Brockley’s Rock, Brockley
Stones Fish and Chips, Acton
French’s Fish Shop, Wells-next-the-Sea
Angell’s Fisheries, Newark-on-Trent
Harrison’s Fish & Chip Co., Oxford
The Oyster Shell, Bath
Seafare Guildford
Robinsons Traditional Fish and Chips, Billingham
Hawthorn Fish Bar, Birmingham
The Fish Bank, Sherburn-in-Elmet
Locker’s Fish & Chips, Redcar
Mister C’s, Selby
The Scrap Box, York
Two Gates Fisheries, Barnsley
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
The Fish Works, Largs
The Wee Chippy, Anstruther
McKays Fish & Chip Shop, Pitlochry
Hilton Chip Shop, Inverness
Finney’s Fish and Chips, Benllech
Posh Fish and Chips (Llandaff), Cardiff
Zero Plus Fish & Chips, Cardiff