Last night at the National Fish and Chip Shop Awards, the Darlington-based Yarm Road Fish and Chips landed themselves the number one spot for takeaway, earning points for flavour as well as value for its under £10 meals.
After running for over 36 years, competition organisers have a pretty clear idea of what makes a good chippy, and it’s safe to say judges have their criteria down to an art.
According to the official website, those in the running for top shop are judged by a panel made up of senior representatives from the fish and chip industry.
In addition to a written entry, finalists participate in a Zoom interview and a secret taste test visit from the judges, where their food is sampled and skills assessed.
It was a nerve-wracking time for entrants, but the ultimate result saw 29-year-old Will Burrell prove his shop is a cut above the rest.
Diners appear to agree, with many taking to TripAdvisor to share their reviews. Earning a 4.5 star rating and more than 115 praises calling it ‘excellent’, fans were impressed by the ‘delicious’ food and ‘clean and high standard’ shop.
One glowing review from @davidgmmafan read: ‘Always great service and food here. The best chippie in Darlo by some margin. I heartily recommend this to everyone!!!!’
Meanwhile, when owner Will sat down with Daily Mail to discuss his win, he put it down to having the best products, packaging and pretty impressive customer service.
Now preparing for an increase in customers, he says he and his team are ready to serve up more of their £9.90 chippy meals than ever.
However, Will also warned it may not be that way for much longer due to rising costs.
‘Our dish is still under a tenner but there are big price rises are coming in the industry,’ he said. ‘The cost of fish has gone through the roof and the cost of potatoes are on the rise.’
‘I’ve never known an onslaught of pressures in terms of costs going up,’ Jon Long, of Long John’s Fish and Chips in Dorset, previously told BBC News. ‘It’s not a cheap meal anymore. I think it’s still good value but it has become more expensive.’
One Mayfair spot has even been spotted selling its meals, containing a piece of fried cod or haddock with chips, mushy peas, tartar and chip shop curry sauce or HP gravy, for a whooping £24.95.
As for who else earned high marks in the national competition, Scottish chippy, The Fish Works in the west coast location of Largs came in second place.
The shop, run by husband and wife Ross and Tiffany Irvin, has been around for more than 40 years and is a beloved part of the town’s culture, with many locals from all walks of life taking their turn at working behind the till.
Rated four stars on TripAdvisor, last year’s Traveller’s Choice nominee is often raved about by diners, and has taken home an array of prizes over the years.
One happy customer complimented the ‘perfectly cooked fish with a delicious thin and crispy batter’, while another said it is: ‘Definitely worthy of all the awards it wins!’
And in third place is Cornwall’s Kellaway’s Fish and Chips, located in Truro.
Despite being a much-loved part of the community for more than 30 years, the shop, run by Larry and Amanda Kellaway, is a newcomer to the list.
On TripAdvisor, its four-star rating is backed up by chippy lovers who praised the shop’s ‘pleasant staff’, ‘super fresh’ food, as well as ‘super crispy batter and delicious chips and batter bits’.
Your list of options to try out isn’t getting any shorter either, as the awards also named its top sit-in restaurants across the country.
Coming in at first place for 2025 is Bells Fish and Chips. The Durham-based shop was named Restaurant of the Year last night thanks to its ‘commitment to excellence’.
Malt & Anchor, located in Gloucestershire, came in second and was praised for being a somewhat ‘traditional’ chippy.
Third place went to Whitley Bay ‘institution’, Trenchers – which also nabbed a spot on the Fry Awards Top 50 Best Fish & Chip Restaurants in the UK list last month.
The more than four-decade-old staple is known for its in-house pianist, who plays on selected days, alongside a recently expanded menu which includes curry and wings.
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