MONSTER ACHIEVEMENT FOR SCOTTISH CHIPPY NAMED AS INDUSTRY NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Monster achievement for Scottish chippy named as industry Newcomer of the Year. A legend in the making has risen from the shores of Scotland’s famous loch and Monster Fish & Chips Co. in Fort Augustus will be telling the tale for years to come of how it was crowned the Newcomer of the Year winner at the National Fish & Chip Awards.

With a 38-year legacy honouring excellence, the UK’s official fish and chip competition set about to find the newest fish and chip operators that right off the ‘batter’ have solid sustainable practices, premium quality ingredients, gold-standard customer service and flair for frying. These are just some of the requirements needed to succeed in the industry’s most robust and detailed awards process.

The other finalists praised by the fish frying experts on the judging panel were The Cottage in Blackpool, Lancashire and fellow Scottish chippy, The Crab & Lobster Fish Shack in South Queensferry. The Newcomer of the Year prize was presented to Daniel and Claire Sandham, owners of Monster Fish & Chips Co. by TV favourite Stephen Mangan who fronted the awards ceremony.

The husband-and-wife team pulled up on the fish and chip scene in March 2024, taking ownership of the car park-based Monster Fish & Chips Co. and transformed it from a so-so business into a rising force. Trained chef Daniel says the couple started with the fundamentals and made substantial investments with training and development for their team, as well as installing top-of-the-range equipment for a high-quality end-product.

Celebrating their new title, Daniel and Claire say:

“We are absolutely thrilled and so proud to be awarded Newcomer of the Year 2026! It’s truly an honour to be recognised at such a prestigious event. We’re incredibly grateful for our hardworking team, our customers and all the guidance we’ve received from others in the industry that has helped us get to where we are today. We are so excited for what the future holds, to keep frying, perfecting, and sharing the love of great fish and chips!”

Economic pressures of the industry didn’t override the vision for the chippy to become a rural destination, and the judges applauded Monster Fish & Chips Co for having tenacity and passion for fresh, top-quality food and building community relationships.

Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), the industry association behind the National Fish & Chip Awards, adds:

“Newcomer of the Year is such an exciting part of the awards line-up as it represents the future of the trade. It’s important for us to encourage up-and-comers, celebrating their early wins and offering direction that will take them to the next milestone achievements.

“The Monster Fish & Chips Co. team has a fearless attitude which is the true spirit of the industry. Digging deep and going against the grain to provide consistently superb fish and chips is proving to be greatly appreciated by Fort Augustus’ residents and tourists. There’s nothing like an outstanding chippy to bring additional connection and pride to the community. This award win proves ‘monster’ isn’t just a name, but a signal of bigger things to come!”

Andrew Marriott, UK Brand & Marketing Manager at Frymax, the sustainable frying oil specialist and supporter of the award, commended the new champion:

“Frymax is once again proud to be sponsoring the Newcomer of the Year award. Despite continued difficult times for the industry it remains a traditional cornerstone of the UK and continues to attract outstanding newcomers who show the initiative and commitment to develop successful businesses that are excellent additions to our industry. Monster Fish & Chips Co is undoubtably one of these and therefore the well-deserved winner of the 2026 Newcomer of the Year award.”

Monster Fish & Chips Co and the other winners from the awards have been invited on an exclusive study trip to Norway, hosted on board the long-liner vessel Geir, where they will see first-hand how Norwegian seafood is responsibly sourced at sea. The visit will give operators direct insight into the country’s science-led fisheries model, helping to bring origin, provenance and sustainability to life.

For more information and bits on the National Fish & Chip Awards, please visit: www.nfff.co.uk/awards.

Image: NFFF