NATIONAL FISH & CHIP AWARDS NAMES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FINALISTS

National Fish & Chip Awards names Community Engagement finalists. It’s well-known that the British public can’t get enough of a good chippy meal and on the flip side, fish and chip businesses across the UK have also been serving big portions of compassion and support in their localities, with the National Fish & Chip Awards selecting three as finalists for its Community Engagement prize.

Acts of kindness and doing good deeds for others are regular activities for many high-street businesses and the National Fish & Chip Awards has been seeking to find chippies with deep connections to their neighbourhoods and a ‘pull together’ attitude which delivers more than expected.

The awards’ judging panel has had a tough task deliberating over the six shortlisted businesses announced last month but three have edged ahead with their creativity and commitment to social impact and will continue in the competition as finalists. They are:

County Durham

Bells Fish and Chips, Seaham

Bells is hugely proud of Seaham’s heritage in the mining industry and paid tribute to it by designing one of its chip shops around the seaside town’s roots. There’s also George, the miner’s head sculpture, that it commissioned to honour previous generations. The team also hosts events for a local charity supporting stroke victims, as well as providing opportunities for schoolchildren to learn about Seaham’s past and have a delicious meal after. This has become so popular, Bells is in the process of devising a child-friendly history book of the local area.

Staffordshire

Jojo’s Fish & Chips, Stafford

From the sponsorship of 200 grassroots football teams to the e-bike delivery service for vulnerable community members, feeding thousands of people for free during National Fish & Chip Day and monthly litter picks to keep the surrounding areas clean and tidy, Team Jojo’s is always looking out for ways to enhance community relations. The town will no doubt be looking forward to the Christmas parade and annual hospice fundraiser that the chippy also organises.

Yorkshire

Time and Plaice, Doncaster

Showing strong social responsibility values is Time and Plaice owner Lee Robinson who regularly provides hot meals for the homeless, as well as making sure local schoolchildren are well fed at their camp-out events. He also sponsors a local boy’s football team and even bought a young player a pair of boots he wanted. Another athlete was able to compete in national and European events thanks to contributions from the business.

Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) – the industry association which co-ordinates the awards – explains that the category demonstrates the power of small businesses:

“When you have fish and chip shops with a desire to increase neighbourhood wellbeing, it goes a very long way in solidifying relationships and re-energising high streets.

“The Community Engagement award finalists are not only providing fresh, quality food but they are also support networks that champion local pride. They are doing many charitable activities which take a lot of organising behind the scenes while simultaneously running a smooth chippy service – they don’t miss a beat! They are the true heart of the fish and chip industry and it’s an honour to reward those using their businesses as vehicles for good.”

The category sponsor is JFK, a leading, community-focussed fish producer from the Faroe Islands, with a hugely impressive fishing history and expertise in North Atlantic sea-frozen ground fish and processed fish from cold, clear Faroese seas.

Jógvan Hansen, its sales and operations director, gives his best wishes to the finalists:

“The JFK team would like to say ‘thank you’ to all who entered the Community Engagement category, as it has been inspiring to learn of the fantastic causes, initiatives and support fish and chip shops are providing. JFK is also a business that holds local relations in very high regard, and we also do all we can to be a helping hand to others. Congratulations to this year’s top three and we look forward to celebrating them at the upcoming awards.”

Brockley’s Rock in London was the 2025 winner and the new titleholder will be announced at the National Fish & Chip Awards ceremony on 25 February at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London.

Secure your National Fish & Chip Awards tickets and celebrate the industry’s finest: https://thefishandchipawards.com/event-tickets/. For more information and bits on the National Fish & Chip Awards, please visit: www.thefishandchipawards.com.

Image credit: Brockley’s Rock