UK's top 60 fish and chips shops announced

The UK's top 60 fish and chip shops have been announced as part of the 2016 National Fish & Chip Awards, organised by Seafish.

Competing across 10 regions, the shops will now compete for the ultimate title of Independent Takeaway Fish and Chip Shop of the Year.

To get to this stage and secure a place in the shortlist, shops have been appraised across a variety of judging criteria, including responsible sourcing policies, marketing and promotional practices and staff training policies. Over the coming weeks, they will be subjected to further judging as they receive mystery shopping assessments by industry experts.

The next stage of the competition will whittle down the line-up, establishing a UK top 20 who will compete for the prestigious ‘regional' titles.

Paul Williams, chief executive of Seafish, said: "The aim of the awards has always been to showcase the very best fish and chip businesses in the UK while setting incredibly high standards for the industry to aspire to.

"The Independent Takeaway Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Award is one of the highest honours to receive as a fish and chip business. Many of our past winners and finalists have gone on to reap substantial benefits, including international fame through industry trips overseas, increased shop footfall and turnover and even launching their own products."

In October, Seafish will announce the top 10 region winning shops competing for the flagship award. These shops will then be invited on an all-expense-paid study trip to Ålesund, Norway, organised by award sponsor the Norwegian Seafood Council, to witness first-hand why the country is regarded as one of the world's most sustainable fishing nations.

Click here to view the full list of regional winners