Forty Towers!
- austen
- 2 hours ago
- 6 min read
Forty takeaways go head-to-head as the National Fish & Chip Awards announces 2026 shortlist
The fish and chip industry’s crown jewel event, the National Fish & Chip Awards – with Seafood from Norway as principal sponsor - is back! Fourteen categories will honour the businesses that serve the crowd-pleasing favourite at the highest level, and it’s time for the first course - celebrating the UK takeaways home to the finest portions.
Tucking into the classic combo of expertly battered fish and golden chips with a crunch and fluffy interior is a thing of joy. And with the endless ways to adorn it with salt, vinegar, curry sauce, gravy, mushy peas, tartare sauce or even a side of cod roe, there’s no wonder it’s the nation’s favourite dish!
The 2026 search for the best in the business in the Takeaway of the Year category - which is sponsored by Friars Pride, Henry Colbeck, McWhinney’s Sausages, Seafood from Iceland, Smales and V.A. Whitley - has seen chippies from coastal hotspots, rural locations and major cities vying to scoop the prize from current titleholder Yarm Road Fish & Chips in Darlington, County Durham.
Sector specialists have shortlisted 40 businesses to take through to the next round of extensive assessments which will focus on a range of criteria including product quality, hygiene, environmental and operational sustainability, customer service, and industry knowledge.
The National Fish & Chip Awards is regarded as the most prestigious competition of its kind in the UK. Those in the running will face a comprehensive appraisal of their businesses to ensure industry standards remain at their highest behind the scenes right through to customer experience. It’s free to enter, with hopefuls receiving tailored critiques which draw attention to brilliance as well as areas for improvement.
The top 40 takeaways representing the UK’s best for fish and chips are:
Bristol
Henbury Fryer, Bristol
Cornwall
Kellaway’s Fish and Chips, Truro
County Durham
Bells Fish and Chips, Durham
Grandpa's Fish Bar, Durham
Devon
Alan's Fish and Chips, Cullompton
Emerald Fish Bar, Newton Abbott
Taffs Fish and Chips, Torrington
Essex
The Fish Inn, Clacton-on-Sea
Greater Manchester
Taylors, Stockport
Hampshire
Mister Pink’s, Lymington
Mike’s Traditional Fish & Chips, Eastleigh
Kent
Lewis’s Fish and Grill, Maidstone
Newington Fish Bar, Ramsgate
Lancashire
Westend Fish and Chips, Oswaldtwistle
Lincolnshire
Catch 22, Tattershall
Hunters Fish and Chips, Louth
London
Brockley’s Rock, Brockley
Stones Fish and Chips, Acton
Merseyside
Portland’s Fish & Chips, Liverpool
Oxfordshire
Harrison’s Fish & Chip Co., Oxford
Somerset
Knights Fish Restaurant, Glastonbury
Suffolk
Orwell Fish & Chips, Felixstowe
Tulula’s Fish & Chips, Halesworth
Surrey
Warwickshire
Harbury Catch, Warwick
West Midlands
Hawthorn Fish Bar, Birmingham
Yorkshire
Mister C’s, Selby
Shaws Fish and Chips of Dodworth, Barnsley
The Fish Bank, Sherburn-in-Elmet
The Scrap Box, York
Wales
Anglesey
Finney’s Fish and Chips, Benllech
Bridgend
Glamorgan
Zero Plus Fish & Chips, Cardiff
Pembrokeshire
Dolphin Fish and Chips, The Parrog Goodwick
Northern Ireland
County Antrim
The Merchant Fish & Chips, Ballymena
Scotland
Aberdeenshire
Garioch Fish Bar, Inverurie
Ayrshire
The Fish Works, Largs
Fife
The Wee Chippy, Anstruther
Inverness-shire
Hilton Chip Shop, Inverness
Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), which runs the awards, says things are already shaping up to be a standout year for the event. “We’ve received a wonderful collection of entries for Takeaway of the Year – it is the badge of honour that many in the industry strive for, and we are very excited to see new names on the list. This year we invited the public to encourage their favourite chippies to enter, and the campaign has proved successful as the judging panel can see hidden gems emerging at this early stage.
“We’re also delighted to see others giving it another go which shows a commitment to excellence by taking on board previous feedback and coming back in a stronger position. It’s going to be an unforgettable experience for the new top 40 takeaways, and we wish them all every success for what we believe is going to be an amazing display of skill, tradition and innovation.”
Will Burrell, co-owner and manager at Yarm Road, says of the business’ victorious win earlier this year: “Winning takeaway of the year 2025 has been the proudest moment of our business life! We went from a busy shop to a crazy-busy one overnight - and it’s showing no signs of slowing down! After eight years of trying to perfect our team and our shop, to hear our name read out down in London was extremely overwhelming!
“The awards process gives you a chance to invigorate yourself, your team and your business. We’ll be sad to hand over the trophy but can’t wait to see amazing fish and chip shops showcase our wonderful industry and keep pushing it forward! A huge thanks as ever to the National Federation of Fish Friers for turning dreams into reality and supporting the nation’s favourite takeaway.”
The next stage will see the 40 being halved for the semi-finals, with the top 10 finalists being named later in the year. The awards ceremony will take place in February in London to announce the new champion.
For more information and bits on the National Fish & Chip Awards, please visit: www.thefishandchipawards.com.
Sponsor quotes
“A big congratulations to the forty takeaways that have been shortlisted for the Takeaway of the Year category at the National Fish & Chip Awards! These forty have already shown passion for our industry while creating a great product for their customers. We would like to wish them the best of luck as they enter the extensive process to try and win the Takeaway of the Year award!” Luke Townsend, marketing manager at Friars Pride
“Fish and chips is more than just food...it’s comfort, tradition and a treat that brings people together. These awards shine a light on the incredible skill and passion of the all the people that make it possible, from young people in their first jobs, to business owners with decades of experience. At Henry Colbeck, we’ve been proud to walk alongside fish and chip shops for over 130 years, and sponsoring Takeaway of the Year is our way of celebrating the businesses that keep this much-loved tradition alive for future generations. Best of luck to all involved!” Georgina Colbeck, marketing director at Henry Colbeck
“McWhinney’s Sausages is a proud sponsor of the National Fish & Chip Awards’ Takeaway of the Year category. Recognising the countless hours that go in to offering a truly memorable fish and chip experience is important for the industry, as operators give selflessly of their time and skill to ensure an exceptional level of quality. We would like to wish all those taking part the best of luck.” Scott McWhinney, sales and marketing director at McWhinney’s Sausages
“The nutrient-rich, crystal-clear waters of Iceland are home to diverse species of wild fish and for centuries our stocks have been respectfully harvested by incredibly skilled fishermen. Iceland’s fishing legacy and superior quality produce is the pride and joy of our nation. Seafood from Iceland is seeing an increased awareness within the UK fish and chip industry of our sustainable and great-tasting, frozen-at-sea cod and haddock fillets. It’s wonderful how our culture and traditions are being embraced and enjoyed. Sponsoring Takeaway of the Year again is deepening our partnership with the UK and its fish and chip businesses.” Björgvin Þór Björgvinsson, Project Manager for Seafood from Iceland
“As a proud sponsor of this great award category, we would like to congratulate all entrants on achieving the consistently high standards which have brought them this far. The standard of operators in the fish and chip world continues to rise and it is great to see. These awards drive high standards and demonstrate what great support there is from all areas of our industry, with the common aim of ensuring that this wonderful trade continues to flourish across the country by offering quality fish, chips and mushy peas for all to enjoy! V.A. Whitley has been delivering excellent service and quality products to the fish and chip trade in England and Wales for over 125 years. We would like to take this opportunity to wish all entrants the very best of luck going forward.” Robert Fernandes, Marketing Manager at V.A. Whitley
“The annual awards are the perfect occasion to celebrate this iconic British dish. It’s an honour for the Norwegian seafood industry to supply so many fantastic shops and restaurants across the UK with quality, responsibly sourced seafood. From the coveted favourites - cod and haddock - to emerging species making their way onto menus, like Norwegian saithe. Best of luck to the finalists in the next stage of the competition!” Seafood from Norway’s Bjorn-Erik Stabell, UK Director of the Norwegian Seafood Council
