...and the winner is...

Kingfisher Fish and Chips in Plymouth has been crowned the best fish and chip shop in the UK after frying out on top at the 2017 National Fish & Chip Awards, organised by Seafish.

The shop scooped the ultimate title - Independent Takeaway Fish and Chip Shop of the Year – at the awards ceremony held at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in London – an event widely regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the fish frying industry.

To secure the top spot, Kingfisher Fish and Chips had to progress through a rigorous, multi-stage judging process over a seven month period; encompassing several mystery shopping assessments and in-depth audits by industry experts, reviewing everything from responsible sourcing policies to menu diversification – and of course, customer service levels and the quality of fish and chips being served.

The final stage of judging, held the day before the awards ceremony (25 January), put the shop’s presentation skills to the test as they faced a 14-strong specialist industry judging panel – ‘battering’ it out against the nine other regional* finalists in a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style pitch.

Ben Bartlett, Master Craftsman of the Craft Guild of Chefs, and a member of this year’s final judging panel, commented: “This year was definitely Kingfisher’s year – they stood out immediately for their extensive knowledge and experience, robust sourcing policies, forward-thinking approach, and continual business growth.

Marcus Coleman, Chief Executive at Seafish, added: “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.

Now in their 29th year, The National Fish & Chip Awards are recognised as one of the most prominent and respected seafood industry events in the UK. They celebrate the British tradition of fish and chips, showcasing the best talent, quality and choice offered by fish and chip businesses through 14 different award categories.

The Independent Takeaway Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Award is one of the highest industry honours to receive as a fish and chip business and previous winners have gone on to great success, reporting sales increases of up to 100%.

For more information visit www.fishandchipawards.com or follow @FishnChipAwards #FishnChipAwards.