UK TOP FISH AND CHIP RESTAURANTS NAMED

UK top fish and chip restaurants named today by Seafish, the public body that supports the £10bn UK seafood industry, as part of the 2019 National Fish & Chip Awards. The restaurants will now compete for the enviable title of the ‘UK’s best fish and chip restaurant’.

The full shortlist of the top six are:

–        Malt and Anchor, Cirencester, Gloucestershire

–        Quayside Restaurant & Fish Bar, Gourdon, Aberdeenshire

–        Something Else Fishy, Milborne Port, Somerset

–        The Cods Scallops, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

–        The Scallop Shell, Bath, Somerset

–        Trenchers Restaurant, Whitby, North Yorkshire

To reach this stage, the restaurants have scored well from mystery visits to their respective premises in order to gauge quality standards. Key award judging criteria included great customer service; serving superb fish and chips and maintaining a first class dining environment. Judges were also looking for excellence in menu development and innovation; responsible sourcing policies; staff training and marketing.

Marcus Coleman, Chief Executive at Seafish, commented: “With the popularity of fish and chip restaurants on the increase, the eating-in experience has now come up to par with the very best traditional fish and chip takeaway businesses. Many consumers are now looking to dine out when eating their fish and chips, perhaps with family or a group of friends, reinforcing the importance of this award category. This award category recognises and rewards our country’s best fish and chip restaurants for providing a stellar customer dining experience and the high level of standards and professionalism evidenced by our finalists this year is outstanding. They are exemplary ambassadors for our industry and are a prime example of why the UK is the home of the world’s best fish and chips.”

Award sponsor Alan Pearce, Field Sales Manager at Goldensheaf, added: “As the UK’s leading batter mix producer, with a heritage of over 60 years, we can identify with the importance of being recognised as a quality performer within the fish and chip industry. This award category rewards those restaurants that provide an outstanding fish and chip dining experience for their customers – via the serving of fantastic food and the provision of great customer service – while continually striving to improve their standards and diversify their respective offerings. We congratulate the finalist restaurants in reaching this stage of the competition and wish them the best of luck in the next round of judging.”

Chef Phil Vickery who will host this year’s awards commented: ““It’s a great pleasure to be hosting the awards ceremony for the National Fish & Chips Awards for 2019. I have a lifelong passion for Great British food and I’ve always been very proud to ensure fish and chips take pride of place on my menus. Great food is all about the finest responsibly sourced ingredients, simplicity and taste. The restaurants and their staff are the torch bearers for the continuation of this important tradition and it’s fantastic to see them being given well-deserved recognition.”

The winner of the Fish and Chip Restaurant of the Year Award will be announced at The National Fish & Chip Awards’ 31^st anniversary ceremony in London on 24 January 2019.

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