Acorn Awards 2025: James Ellams, Fish & Chips @ Weston Grove

Age 22

Position Fish frier/supervisor, Fish & Chips @ Weston Grove

Nominator Josette Foster, owner, Fish & Chips @ Weston Grove 

At just 22, James Ellams is proving that brilliance in hospitality doesn’t need silver service to shine – it can come straight from the fryer.

Ellams runs one of the busiest independent fish and chip shops in Chester with the efficiency, energy and ambition of a seasoned pro. Managing a 10-strong team, he’s responsible for every part of service,  from sourcing and preparation to frying, customer service and ordering, regularly generating revenue of more than five figures in just four days.

Having left school with no qualifications, Ellams completed Level 2 and 3 apprenticeships in maths, and English, and as a production chef. He’s developed new gluten-free-friendly and non-fish dishes, improved sustainability and refined energy usage – all while managing rising costs with calm precision. He even hand-weighs every fillet daily to maintain portion control and minimise waste. He also acts as a mentor to new staff members and inspires them to enter national awards.

Outside the shop, Ellams is a vocal ambassador for the industry. From judging awards and speaking at Westminster Kingsway College to organising peer trips to London’s famed Billingsgate fish market and mentoring other young friers, he’s dedicated to raising the profile of hospitality careers. To ensure inclusive service, he’s trained in using Makaton (a language that uses signs, symbols and speech to help people with learning or communication difficulties communicate). He also uses his own story to inspire school-leavers and apprentices alike.

Ellams leads by example; supporting elderly customers, handling national press interviews, and even opening the shop after the sudden loss of a colleague. His passion, work ethic and heart have become the backbone of his team and ensures a fresh face for the future of British fish and chips.