The UK’s top fish and chip shops have been revealed

But which shop will take first plaice in the competition?

Fish and chips with peas and slice of lemon and garnish (iStock)

The UK’s top fish and chip shops have been revealed ahead of the National Fish and Chip Awards 2020.

Earlier this month, Seafish – the non-departmental public body that supports the £10bn UK seafood industry – announced the 60 most popular fish and chip eateries in the lead up to the awards ceremony in January next year.

Now the shortlist has been whittled down to just 20 businesses.

Carron Fish Bar in Stonehaven, Hiks in Swansea and Shap Chippy in Penrith are among the shops listed and battling for first position in the competition.

Seafish states that the award, which was formed in 1988, recognises outstanding businesses across the country that are serving “incredible fish and chips and providing excellent customer service”.

Those shortlisted are also believed to have gone “gone above and beyond to secure their place in the shortlist stage of the competition and showcase the nation’s favourite takeaway dish”.

However, a shop’s place on the list doesn’t come down to the taste of their takeaway alone.

Business are judged on the sustainable sourcing of their key ingredients, staff training and the opportunities they provide for young people and the creation of “innovative” menu options for customers with allergies and dietary requirements.

They will also have undergone several judging stages including mystery shopping visits and full business performance audits of premises.

Marcus Coleman, chief executive officer at Seafish said: “Our judges really do scrutinise every aspect of running a fish and chip business, so reaching this stage is a real achievement.

“Fish and chips is the healthiest of the traditional takeaways, and we’re pleased to say that the quality on offer across the UK is just as healthy, if not more so, than it was when we launched these awards 32 years ago. It’s not easy to break in to the top 20, so every one of these businesses should be celebrating today.”

The winner of the Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Award will be announced at The National Fish & Chip Awards’ 32nd anniversary ceremony in London on 23 January 2020.

Earlier this year, Krispies Fish & Chips shop in Exmouth, Devon was crowned the best chippy in the UK.

Following the win, Tim Barnes, owner of Krispies, said: “What a journey this has been and what an incredible way to top it off by being crowned UK’s Fish & Chip Shop of the Year! We love the awards and we’d recommend anyone in the industry to enter.

The top 20 businesses included this year are as follows:

• Belmont Bay Fish Bar, Harrow, London

• Carron Fish Bar, Stonehaven, Grampian

• Dolphin Takeaway, Duncannon, Country Tyrone

• Fiddlers Elbow, Leintwardine, Herefordshire

• Fish ‘n’ Fritz, Weymouth, Dorset

• Fish and Chips @ Weston Grove, Chester, Cheshire

• French’s Fish Shop, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk

• Hiks, Swansea, West Glamorgan

• Hook & Line, Leeds, West Yorkshire

• HOOKED@31, Fishguard, Pembrokeshire

• Low’s Traditional Fish & Chips, Aberdeen, Grampian

• Mike’s Traditional Fish & Chips, Eastleigh, Hampshire

• Rockfish, Brixham, Brixham, Devon

• Seafare Guildford, Guildford, Surrey

• Shap Chippy, Penrith, Cumbria

• The Bearded Sailor, Leeds, West Yorkshire

• The Chip Shed , Warwick, Warwickshire

• The Cod’s Scallops, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

• The Frying Squad, Bangor, County Down

• Walnut Tree Traditional Fish and Chips, Milton Keynes, Hertfordshire

The full 2020 shortlist is available to view here.