Top independent chippies named in Seafish National Fish & Chip Awards 2016
The UK's top five independent fish and chip shop restaurants have been announced as part of the Seafish National Fish & Chips Awards 2016.
Selected from a list of 10 semi-finalists, they are (in no particular order):
Hanbury's Famous Fish and Chips, Babbacombe, Devon
No 1 Cromer, Cromer, Norfolk
Papa's Fish and Chips, Willerby, East Yorkshire
The Scallop Shell, Bath, Somerset
Trenchers restaurant, Whitby, North Yorkshire
The five shops will now compete for the title of best Independent Fish and Chip Restaurant of the Year award, with the winner securing its place as the best fish and chip shop in the UK. The prize will be awarded at a ceremony at the Lancaster London hotel on 20 January 2016.
Each business faces further judging, including in-depth visits from an auditor who will assess the shops' front- and back-of-house operational aspects.
The restaurants have already been appraised across a range of criteria including the sourcing of raw ingredients, their site's appearance, decor and facilities, staff training, marketing activity and their ability to cater for customers with dietary requirements.
Mel Groundsell, corporate relations director at Seafish, congratulated this year's shortlisted businesses on their high standards and professionalism, and said that the popularity of fish and chips was a key symbol of British identity and a strong sign of the rising ‘posh nostalgia' trend.
She commented: "The aim of the National Fish & Chip Awards has always been to showcase the very best fish and chip businesses and individuals in the UK while setting incredibly high standards for the industry to aspire to. The importance of recognising and rewarding our country's best fish and chip restaurants cannot be overlooked.
David Lovell, business director of award sponsor Goldensheaf, said: "This award category rewards those businesses that provide an outstanding fish and chip dining experience for their customers while continually striving to improve the standards in their business as a whole. "
He added: "We congratulate the five restaurants in reaching the final stage of the competition and wish them good luck for the next round of judging."
Other awards sponsors include Drywite, the Marine Stewardship Council, Marine Conservation Society, Frymax, the Norwegian Seafood Council, and the Responsible Fishing Scheme.
The awards are supported by the Frozen At Sea Fillets Association, the National Edible Oils Distributors Association, Florigo, Vandemoortele, KFE School of Frying, Russums, the Fishermen's Mission, Larry's Fishcakes, Seafood Scotland and the National Federation of Fish Friers.
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