The Famous Five!

Five go off to London for Drywite title at National Fish & Chip Awards

The next generation of exceptional fish and chip professionals have been making themselves known to industry experts and the National Fish & Chip Awards has selected the UK’s most impressive five who are now finalists racing towards the Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year title.

The 27th winner of the highly acclaimed prize will be announced at the event in February, which is celebrated for being the benchmark setter for industry standards. The friers are all under 25 years old with a minimum of six months’ experience managing frying ranges by themselves.

Last year's winner Glen Morrison from Garioch Fish Bar in Inverurie, Scotland,

 The entrants have faced pressure-filled live tasks and interviews, with sector specialists challenging them to showcase their understanding of the end-to-end cooking process. From oil selection knowledge, potato varieties and the required preparation to fish portioning and frying methods, the finalists have worked incredibly hard to set themselves apart, taking on feedback and improving at each stage.

All the practice, refinement and hunger to be top-class friers has paid off for the five contenders and they have proved their ability to consistently produce outstanding portions of fish and chips.

The brilliantly gifted friers poised to take up the mantle from last year’s winner Glen Morrison from Garioch Fish Bar in Inverurie, Scotland, are:

·         Abigail Barker - Millers Fish and Chips in Haxby, Yorkshire

·         Kieran Bulpit - Donington Fish and Chips in Spalding, Lincolnshire

·         James Ellams – Fish & Chips @ Weston Grove in Chester, Cheshire

·         Charlie James – Pier Point in Torquay, Devon

·         Jack Spencer - Queens Drive Fish & Chips in Ossett, Yorkshire

Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year launched more than 30 years ago and Kelvin Lee, managing director of Drywite Ltd, says of the rising stars: “Since it’s conception in 1995 the Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year competition has always proved just how many highly skilled young professionals we have working in the fish and chip industry and this year has been no exception. The judges faced a very difficult task in choosing the very best from five extremely talented young people whose skills are of the highest calibre. It will be a real honour for me to award this year’s winner with the much-coveted Malcolm Lee Trophy.”

Andrew Crook is the president of the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), the organiser of the fish and chip sector’s leading awards ceremony, comments on the successful finalists: “The confidence, maturity and talent we have seen from each of the contestants this year has been absolutely superb. They’ve used the intensity of the judging rounds to build their resilience, and we’ve seen how they’ve grown in a relatively short space of time. These are just the early days in their careers so there’s no doubt they are going to utilise this experience to achieve everything they’re dreaming of and more.

“We’re also proud of how they are supporting one another even though they’re competing against each other - these are wonderful signs of leadership and integrity. A huge thank you to their respective employers too for providing unwavering encouragement and opportunities for emerging high achievers.”

The champion will receive the Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year award on 25 February at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London.

To be part of the National Fish & Chip Awards’ celebrations, please visit https://thefishandchipawards.com/event-tickets/. For more information and bits on the National Fish & Chip Awards, please visit: www.thefishandchipawards.com.

Image credit: Garioch Fish Bar

About the National Fish & Chip Awards:

The National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) is the organiser of the National Fish and Chip Awards and 2026 marks the 38^th edition. It is open to all UK fish and chip businesses, with overseas operators welcome to enter the international category. As it’s run by the industry’s association, the expert guidance offered to entrants is of an exceptional level. In-depth scrutiny within the judging process covers every aspect of businesses – food, hygiene, sustainability (produce and operational practices), customer service, and industry knowledge. This ensures the nation receives high-quality food and an overall standout experience, while professionals in the industry have access to opportunities to further their growth. The awards also recognise fish and chip shops which are investing in their communities, making a difference to the environment around them and boosting the local economy. The principal sponsor for the 2026 awards is Seafood from Norway.

About Drywite:

Drywite Ltd celebrated 90 years in business in 2023, having evolved from the Pioneer Potato Company Ltd, which was founded in 1933 by HG Lee when his 14-year-old son Malcolm, who was working as a potato boy in a local fish & chip shop, had the inspired idea of selling ready peeled potatoes. To prevent his potatoes from discoloring when out of water, Malcolm and his father formulated their own preservative, which they called Drywite Potato Preparation, and it wasn’t long before it attracted the attention of local fish friers anxious to buy this marvelous product.

Having started his working life in a fish & chip shop, Malcolm Lee remained very closely involved with fish & chips and always encouraged young people to make a career in the industry, so in 1995, his son and daughter Kelvin Lee and the late Briar Wilkinson established Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year in his memory. Today Drywite Ltd supplies a very wide range of products to the fish frying industry, which can be found at www.drywite.co.uk.