Twenty Twenty Vision!
- austen
- Oct 7
- 7 min read
Twenty fish and chip takeaways make industry award semi-finals
It’s the title that many chippies hope to be honoured with and this dream is becoming more
of a reality for 20 businesses edging closer to being the 2026 Takeaway of the Year recipient
at the National Fish & Chip Awards with Seafood from Norway as principal sponsor.
The Takeaway of the Year category is sponsored by industry-leading names Friars Pride,
Henry Colbeck, McWhinney’s Sausages, Seafood from Iceland, Smales and V.A. Whitley,
and following last month’s top 40 shortlist announcement, a tough knock-out round has
taken place. The well-versed team of experts conducted close inspections of the chippies’
approaches to produce selection, industry knowledge, quality, sustainability and more, which
has now reduced the lineup by half.
The benchmark for excellence is set high within the sector and as the headline event, the
National Fish & Chip Awards has earned a revered reputation as a detail-oriented
competition which doesn’t compromise when it comes to the preservation of best practice.
“There’s nowhere to hide when a chippy puts itself forward for the National Fish & Chip
Awards.” says Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF),
which organises the annual ceremony. “The rigours of the process are designed to
challenge, inspire and motivate all who take part and one of the benefits is that businesses
receive direction for how to tighten up and truly be outstanding regardless of winning or not.”
He adds: “Fish and chips hold such a special place in peoples’ hearts and it’s our
responsibility to provide steer so that things stay that way and these fantastic 20 semi-
finalists are great ambassadors for why it’s loved so much.”
These are the 20 nationally recognised takeaways to know about:
Cornwall
Kellaway’s Fish and Chips, Truro
County Durham
Bells Fish and Chips, Durham
Devon
Emerald Fish Bar, Newton Abbott
Taffs Fish and Chips, Torrington
Essex
The Fish Inn, Clacton-on-Sea
Greater Manchester
Taylors, Stockport
Hampshire
Mike’s Traditional Fish & Chips, Eastleigh
Kent
Newington Fish Bar, Ramsgate
Lincolnshire
Catch 22, Tattershall
London
Brockley’s Rock, Brockley
Oxfordshire
Harrison’s Fish & Chip Co., Oxford
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
Glamorgan
Zero Plus Fish & Chips, Cardiff
Scotland
Aberdeenshire
Garioch Fish Bar, Inverurie
Lows Traditional Fish & Chips (Berryden), Aberdeen
Ayrshire
The Fish Works, Largs
The next challenge for the top 20 is the interview stage, with the final 10 hopefuls being
revealed next month. The National Fish & Chip Awards ceremony will be hosted on 25
February at the Park Plaza, Westminster Bridge, where the winner will enter the Hall of
Fame like the 2025 takeaway champion Yarm Road Fish & Chips in Darlington, County
Durham.
Tickets for the National Fish & Chips Awards are available now. Bag yours at
For more information and bits on the National Fish & Chip Awards, please visit:
Sponsor quotes
“We are delighted to extend a congratulations to the Top 20 takeaways shortlisted for the
Takeaway of the Year award at the National Fish & Chip Awards! This is a fantastic
achievement and showcases their incredible dedication, passion, and commitment to the fish and chip industry. These businesses are at the heart of their communities and truly highlight the highest standards of our industry. Making it into the top 20 is an exceptional
accomplishment, and we wish every single one of them the very best of luck as they
progress to the next round. As a family business ourselves, we understand the dedication
and passion the family-run businesses within the fish and chip industry have. We are proud
to be sponsoring the Takeaway of the Year category.” Luke Townsend, marketing
manager at Friars Pride
“Congratulations to the Top 20 takeaways – it’s a huge achievement to make it this far –
running a business, whilst proceeding through awards takes a strong commitment and great
teamwork. It’s a nerve-wracking time of year as the selection process heats up and the
judges put every takeaway through their paces. Top 10 next stop!” Georgina Colbeck,
marketing director at Henry Colbeck
“Once again, McWhinney’s Sausages is a proud sponsor of the National Fish & Chip
Awards’ Takeaway of the Year category. The dedication, passion, and commitment all the
entrants show for the industry, is truly inspiring. Quality is an integral part the fish and chip
shop experience, which is why McWhinney’s supports these incredibly important industry
awards, and we wish all participants the best of luck.” Scott McWhinney, sales and
marketing director at McWhinney’s Sausages
“We are proud to continue our support of the National Fish & Chip Awards and to celebrate
the excellence and dedication of professionals who champion Icelandic seafood. These
awards are a fantastic opportunity to highlight the importance of sourcing high-quality,
sustainable fish – something Iceland is deeply committed to. We’re excited to reconnect withindustry professionals who share our passion and to showcase the people and values
behind Iceland’s world-class seafood.” Björgvin Þór Björgvinsson, Project Manager for
Seafood from Iceland
“We’re thrilled to support the National Fish & Chip Awards and celebrate the incredible talent within our industry. Reaching the Top 20 in the takeaway category is a huge achievement, showcasing the passion, quality, and dedication that make these businesses stand out. Congratulations to all the semi-finalists — we can’t wait to see who makes it into the Top 10!”Robert Fernandes, Marketing Manager at V.A. Whitley
“We’re another step closer to the crowning of the winner – these shops are all great
examples of takeaways that, through quality and innovation, contribute to leading the
industry forward. The Norwegian seafood industry is proud to be an ongoing supporter of
this incredible sector, supplying responsibly sourced cod and haddock, as well as emerging
species like Norwegian saithe to quality shops and operators across the nation.” Seafood
from Norway’s Bjørn-Erik Stabell, UK Country Director for the Norwegian Seafood
Council
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 Friars Pride:
Friars Pride is an independent, family-owned company with a heritage dating back to 1898.
For three generations, we have been a dedicated supplier of quality fats, oils, frozen foods,
ambient goods, and fish to the fish and chip and takeaway industry.
We are truly passionate about this trade and believe it’s vital to reinforce the positivity
surrounding our fantastic product and its future. We support family businesses like yours
with a wide range of high-quality branded products and innovative own-label brands.
To ensure you receive the best possible service, we provide dedicated local telesales and
operations teams at each of our depots, along with a large field sales team. This means you
have an Area Sales Manager to support your business needs directly.
About Henry Colbeck:
Founded in 1893, Henry Colbeck is the UK’s oldest independent supplier dedicated to the
fish and chip industry. Still family-owned and family-managed, we have proudly supported
generations of fish friers with quality products, reliable service and trusted advice for over
130 years. From responsibly sourced frozen-at-sea cod and haddock, frying oils and batter
flours to packaging, frozen foods, equipment and cleaning materials, everything we do is
centred around helping fish and chip shops thrive. Customer care and industry passion
remain at the heart of our business. www.colbeck.co.uk
About McWhinney’s Sausages:
McWhinney's Sausages traces its roots back to a butcher's shop in 1898, where the recipe
that is known and loved to this day was born. Now in its sixth generation, McWhinney's
continues to emphasise the importance of quality above all else to ensure a consistent and
delicious sausage every time. www.mcwhinneys.com.
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
About Seafood from Iceland:
Seafood from Iceland was founded in 2019. It is a platform for Icelandic fisheries companies
to work together on marketing under one brand of origin to maximize the value of the
products. The project's main objective is to increase the export value by raising awareness
and improving consumer's attitudes toward Icelandic seafood.
For centuries, Iceland and the UK have shared a strong fish trade. Today, frozen-at-sea cod
and haddock fillets are among Iceland's top exports to the UK, celebrated for their premium
quality, sustainability, and taste.
Seafood from Iceland is proud to sponsor the Takeaway of the Year award and collaborate
with the fish and chip industry to raise consumer awareness of sustainably sourced Icelandic
seafood.
About Smales:
Since 1937 we have been supplying the UK’s fish fryers and caterers with quality fish and
seafood. Today we remain a family-owned business, renowned for reliability and the
consistent quality of our sustainably sourced fish and seafood. We bring value for money,
tradition and innovation to the nation’s table working with elite suppliers from around the
globe. https://smales.co.uk/
About V.A. Whitley:
V.A. Whitley is the premier supplier to the fish and chip and fast-food trade in the North West of England, North Midlands and North and Mid-Wales.
Founded in 1899 and currently celebrating our 125th anniversary - we remain an independent family company enjoying fourth generation involvement within our management structure.
Throughout our history, we have sought to emulate the high standards set by our founder,
providing customers with quality products at competitive prices whilst maintaining excellent
levels of service.
Today we offer you a range of products designed to provide your business with ‘one-
stop’ supply. Our full range of dried goods, packaging and catering equipment has been
complemented by a broad range of top quality-frozen fish, pies and foods.
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