Peter's Passion!

Middleton Foods announces return of The Peter Hill Award for 2026!

Following its tremendous success over recent years, Middleton Foods is delighted to announce the return of The Peter Hill Award, which is back, once again, for 2026! The competition welcomes entries until 30^th September 2026, to newcomers to the fish and chip trade, with over £10,000 worth of prizes up for grabs!

Launched by Middleton Foods in 2023 in memory of its late CEO, Peter Hill, The Peter Hill Award is truly unique and reflects Peter’s passion for his beloved fish and chip industry, as Ryan Baker, Sales Manager, Middleton Foods explains:

“We’re thrilled to be bringing back The Peter Hill Award for its fourth year! We can’t wait to see who enters, and who will win something money just can’t buy. It’s important to us to put together a prize every year that not only rewards the winner but is genuinely beneficial to them, something that helps them move forward in the industry.

The Peter Hill Award recognises newcomers to the industry, encourages new talent, promotes quality and excellence and allows us to give something back to the trade. We’d like to extend our thanks to our independent expert judging panel – Fred Capel, Nigel Hodgson and Calum Richardson, for their ongoing support.

We all miss Peter so much, but we know he’d be proud to see how this Award has supported newcomers to the industry – it’s a true legacy to him and a fantastic way to keep our great friend’s memory alive.”

We’re mixing things up this year with one winner and just two runners up. The winner of The Peter Hill Award 2026 will receive a spectacular prize of £1,000 worth of Middleton Foods stock; a factory tour with design of their ‘own label’ bespoke batter mix; membership of the NFFF for one year; ForkedUp training with Calum Richardson, for 3 months; two tickets to the Fish & Chip Shop of the Year Awards 2027 (with hotel accommodation and travel expenses); a Middleton Foods Ambassador profile; a bespoke Batter Up Business Boost - a full day of support from the Middleton Foods team; exclusive support for National Fish and Chip Day 2027, two spaces at the KFE Ball (with hotel accommodation), an invite to the NFFF media day and a framed certificate.

Two runners-up will each receive £1,000 of Middleton Foods stock + invite to NFFF Media Day

The Winner will be announced October 2026.

Full details on how to enter The Peter Hill Award 2026, terms and conditions and the all-important prize, can be found here – www.middletonfoods.com/the-peter-hill-award.

For more information on Middleton Foods, please visit www.middletonfoods.com or call +44 (0)1902 608122.

You can also contact The Batter Boys – who are on hand to assist with any obstacles fish fryers face, at a moment's notice!

Previous Winners

 The Peter Hill Award 2025

·         Winner - Monster Fish & Chips Co., Fort Augustus

·         Runners-Up - The Cottage, Blackpool; The Friary, Beauly; Grandpa’s Fish Bar, Durham; and Reel Plaice, Ayr

The Peter Hill Award 2024

·         Winner – SALT Fish & Chips, Cumbria

·         Runners-Up – Catch, Porthleven, Cornwall; Frydays, Kendal, Lancashire; Sea Blue Fisheries, Clowne, Sheffield; The Anchor, Bexley, Kent; and The Friary, Beauly, Scotland

The Peter Hill Award 2023

·         Winner – Oliver’s Chippy, Warton, Lancashire

·         Runners-Up – Angell’s Fisheries, Newark; Anstruther Fish Bar, Anstruther; Harrison’s Fish & Chip Co., Oxford; Jojo’s Van, Stafford; and Toll Bar Fish & Chips, Stoney Middleton