The Fry-Lights!

Chippy Chat Special Awards Issue is Here from 2026 National Fish & Chip Awards

By Austen Dack

The National Fish & Chip Awards 2026, with Seafood from Norway as principal sponsor, has recently paid homage to power players in the sector, with the headliner prize - Takeaway of the Year – going home to the sensational Scrap Box in York, Yorkshire.

The day was a triumph for the NFFF team of Andrew Crook, Josette Foster, Caroline Murphy and Lesley Graves who were the primary organisers of an event that takes year around to cordinate, and takes them away from running their own fish and chip businesses.

We have been busy here at Chippy Chat compiling our March awards issue containing all winners and runners up, plus all sponsors too. It will be posted through letter boxes any day but is exclusively released online here today!

The 38^th grand gala was hosted by TV presenter and actor Stephen Mangan, (with expert co-commentary from broadcasting leagend Nigel Barden) and was organised by fish and chip industry association, the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF). The UK’s official competition for the fish and chip industry is recognised across all sectors within the trade and is the most comprehensive of its kind. It’s free of charge to enter and open to all 10,500+ chippy operators in the nation, with a category for overseas outlets too.   

This is the awards platform for regulating the trade’s standards, honouring greatness and providing entrants with guidance on how to improve further. Fish frying experts challenge participants with a series of interview rounds, skills tests, live tasks and anonymous taste testing, which investigates their businesses at an unrivalled depth.

Shortlisted contenders must show extensive product knowledge, sustainable business practices, employer integrity, first-rate customer service and above all be masters of cooking irresistible fish and chips.

The National Fish & Chip Awards 2026 has proudly given its acclaimed seal of approval to these high achievers:

Takeaway of the Year

1^st: The Scrap Box - York, Yorkshire

2^nd: The Fish Works - Largs, Scotland

3^rd: Shaws Fish & Chips of Dodworth – Barnsley, Yorkshire

Restaurant of the Year

1^st: Trenchers of Whitby – Whitby, Yorkshire

2^nd: Noah’s - Bristol

3^rd: Whitby's Restaurant & Take Away, Rotherham, Yorkshire

Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year

Winner: James Ellams of Fish & Chips @ Weston Grove - Chester, Cheshire

Runner-up: Abigail Barker of Millers Fish & Chips - Haxby, Yorkshire

Newcomer of the Year

Monster Fish & Chips Co. - Fort Augustus in Inverness-shire, Scotland

Field to Frier

The Fish Works – Largs in Ayrshire, Scotland

Employee of the Year

Donna Whitfield from Bells Fish & Chips – Durham, County Durham

Mobile Operator of the Year

Frosty's – Northumberland

Environment and Sustainable Business

The Real Food Café – Tyndrum in Perthshire, Scotland

Training and Development

Yarm Road Fish & Chips in Darlington, County Durham

Menu Innovation

Harrison’s Fish & Chip Co in Oxford, Oxfordshire

Marketing Initiative Award

The Scrap Box - York, Yorkshire

Quality Accreditation Champion

Knight’s Fish Restaurant – Glastonbury, Somerset

Community Engagement

Bells Fish & Chips – Seaham, County Durham

International Fish and Chip Operator

Fish & Chips Lake Mývatn - Iceland

Supplier of the Year

Collins Seafoods

Outstanding Contribution

David Miller from Millers Fish & Chips in Haxby, Yorkshire

To open the Chippy Chat Awards Special click here.

On receiving the top prize of Takeaway of the Year, Aman Dhesi who co-owns The Scrap Box with his brother Gavin, says: “There are so many outstanding fish and chip shops across the UK, and countless awards, but this is the one every chippy dreams of, the ‘Oscars’ of our industry!

“With the most rigorous judging and the highest calibre of past winners, it’s a true honour to be recognised at this level. To represent the very best of fish and chips for the year ahead is both humbling and hugely meaningful to our team, and a testament to the craft, care, and consistency we put into every portion of fish and chips.”

Andrew Crook is the president of the National Federation of Fish Friers, he says the 2026 edition has been one of the most complex for the judges to separate the winners. “What a year it has been for the National Fish & Chip Awards! We don’t make it easy to progress through the assessments as benchmarks are always set extremely high. This ensures shortlisted businesses and individuals truly know about serving superb quality meals for customers and they are contributing to the growth of sector by innovating where possible, investing in their operations and people, and being exceptional advocates for the trade.

“It’s been clear from the start that those competing came with serious agendas to elevate industry best practice like never before and we are so proud to say these are the winners!” he comments. “Fish and chip businesses are the backbone of the takeaway space; the heritage is like no other and our winners represent tradition and the future to the highest degree.

“We have so much admiration and respect for all our finalists and winners and especially our new Takeaway of the Year titleholder, The Scrap Box.  It’s going to be a brilliant time of extended celebrations! Congratulations to Aman, Gavin and the team, and thank you for your service, passion and love for the greatest dish in the world.”

Seafood from Norway’s Bjørn-Erik Stabell, UK Country Director for the Norwegian Seafood Council, adds: “On behalf of the Norwegian seafood industry, we want to congratulate this year’s winners who have been crowned as the best in the business – you are truly remarkable! The commitment to quality across the industry continues to astound us year on year, and it's this shared commitment that gets us excited about the future of fish and chips.”

Seafood from Norway will host the group of award winners on an exclusive trip to Norway, aboard fishing vessel Geir, bringing origin, provenance and sustainability to life with those that serve up the iconic dish day in, day out.

For more information on the National Fish & Chip Awards, please visit: www.nfff.co.uk/awards.

About the National Fish & Chip Awards:

The National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) is the organiser of the National Fish & 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 the Norwegian Seafood Council:

The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) works with the Norwegian seafood industry and local partners to develop markets for Norwegian seafood. The NSC is headquartered in Tromsø and maintains local representatives in Norway's most important international markets. The “Seafood from Norway” mark of origin is a symbol of origin for all Norwegian seafood. To learn more about Norway’s unique location, diverse seafood, generations of experience, and industry-leading sustainable fishing techniques, go to: www.seafoodfromnorway.co.uk 

To open the Chippy Chat 2026 Awards Speical click here.