THE WAIT IS OVER: UK’S TOP 10 FISH AND CHIP SHOPS ANNOUNCED – TWO OF THEM ARE IN WALES

The UK’s 10 top fish and chip shops have been announced today (September 17). These shops are finalists in the Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Award, the flagship category in the 2020 National Fish & Chip Awards. 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 businesses.

The UK’s 10 best fish and chip shops are, in alphabetical order:

•  Carron Fish Bar, Stonehaven, Grampian
• Dolphin Takeaway, Duncannon, Country Tyrone
• Fish and Chips @ Weston Grove, Chester, Cheshire
• Golden Carp, Redditch, Worcestershire
• Hiks, Swansea, West Glamorgan
• HOOKED@31, Fishguard, Pembrokeshire
• Rockfish, Brixham, Devon
• Seafare, Guildford, Surrey
• Shap Chippy, Penrith, Cumbria
• The Cod’s Scallops, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

Fish and chips is the healthiest of the traditional takeaways providing an excellent source of protein, along with carbohydrate and many essential vitamins and minerals. 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 this 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 career opportunities for young people
    • Creation of innovative menu options for those with allergies and dietary requirements

There are a number of rigorous judging stages to overcome en route to being named the best fish and chip shop in the UK, including mystery shopper judging visits and full business performance audits of premises, followed by presentations to an industry judging panel.

Marcus Coleman, Chief Executive Officer at Seafish, said: “These ten finalists represent the best fish and chips on offer the UK today. They are consistently excelling across all areas and providing their customers with healthy, high quality fish and chips on every visit. Each of them is a credit to the industry and should be commended on the commitment they have shown to maintaining its fantastic reputation.

“It’s not possible to get to this stage of our awards without giving 100%, and each one of them has shown enthusiasm in spades. We’d encourage anyone who hasn’t paid one of these shops a visit to get down and see for yourself just how good they are. Congratulations to all ten finalists, we wish them all the best of luck.”

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. It can also be 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.

The winner of the Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Award will be announced at The National Fish & Chip Awards’ 32^nd anniversary awards ceremony in London on 23 January 2020.

To view the full shortlist visit: http://www.fishisthedish.co.uk/win/national-fish-chip-awards or follow @fishisthedish #FishnChipAwards.

10 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.