The National Fish & Chip Awards served a golden celebration of the industry’s best operators at the London ceremony, with Yarm Road Fish and Chips in Darlington, County Durham, topping the menu of winners to collect the revered Takeaway of the Year award.
Organised by the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), the awards – now in its 37th year – honoured the skills, innovation and dedication of businesses and individuals in the UK and beyond that are elevating the fish and chip experience. Prizes were awarded across 15 categories which covered everything from sustainability to quality to customer service, not forgetting the crucial ability to dish up undeniably delicious fish and chips.
An industry decision-making group created a lengthy schedule of interviews, tasks, skills presentations and anonymous taste tests, resulting in the decoration of the fish and chip sector’s most outstanding businesses at the acclaimed event, which was hosted by television personality Matt Baker.
Will Burrell, director-manager of Yarm Road Fish and Chips, says: “Well we can’t quite believe it! We really didn’t think this year would be our year. Not because of how the process and judging has gone, but purely because of just how unbelievable the rest of the top 10 finalists are. To be mentioned alongside these guys is one thing, but to top the list is something we could only dream of! Now somehow, it’s reality.
“Our biggest congratulations and thanks go out to our absolutely amazing team. They have worked tirelessly throughout the years and have been so invested in this competition. It goes without saying, but without them we would be nowhere near this position we find ourselves in today. To take this trophy home to them makes all the hard work worthwhile.”
Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers, says this year’s entrants have shown the abundant passion for fish and chips is only deepening. “The bar for the National Fish & Chip Awards is set higher each year across the criteria the competitors are evaluated against, and our new titleholders have put everything into elevating their menus, sharpening their skills and developing their expertise.
“The quick-service sector is constantly changing but what remains is that customers expect a high quality product that tastes like heaven, that sustainability is carefully considered throughout the experience and the service is on-point. Each winner hits the mark on all these fronts and their hard work is achieving national attention. On behalf of the NFFF, I’d like to say a big congratulations and thank you to these businesses for being shining examples of greatness in the fish and chip industry.”
The National Fish & Chip Awards 2025 winners are:
Takeaway of the Year
1st Yarm Road Fish and Chips – Darlington, County Durham
2nd The Fish Works – Largs, Scotland
3rd Kellaway’s Fish and Chips – Truro, Cornwall
Restaurant of the Year
1st Bells Fish & Chips (Framwellgate Moor) – Durham, County Durham
2nd Malt and Anchor – Cirencester, Gloucestershire
3rd Trenchers Spanish City – Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear
Field to Frier
Redcloak Fish Bar – Stonehaven, Scotland
Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year
Glen Morrison from Garioch Fish Bar – Inverurie, Scotland
Newcomer of the Year
Mackerel Sky – Stamford Bridge, Yorkshire
Employee of the Year
Georgia Lye from Seafare Guildford, Surrey
Mobile Operator of the Year
Country Fried – Blackburn, Lancashire
Environment and Sustainable Business
Finney’s Benllech – Anglesey, Wales
Training and Development
Taylors – Stockport, Greater Manchester
Digital Marketing
Eric’s Fish and Chips – Thornham, Norfolk
Quality Accreditation Champion
The Scrap Box – York, Yorkshire
Community Engagement
Brockley’s Rock – Brockley, London
International Fish and Chip Operator
Fez & Cip – Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
Supplier of the Year
Dennis Crooks Fish Merchants
Outstanding Achievement
Paul Williams – KFE Ltd
Hear from Paul Williams on winning the Outstanding Contribution To Industry Award at this year’s National Fish & Chip Awards here.