It’s exciting times for 10 UK fish and chip shops which are off to a great start in the 2025 National Fish & Chip Awards having made the shortlist in the potato category.
There’s nothing ‘floury’ about the Field to Frier award, which salutes businesses with a deep understanding of potato selection and chip preparation – a complex process that requires superb skill to produce outer crunchiness and a fluffy interior for that eye-closing, chip-eating experience the nation knows and loves.
The most prestigious awards ceremony in the fish and chip industry is overseen by experts who peel back the layers of contender businesses to unearth those which are serving the highest quality food and are setting new standards of all-round greatness in sustainability, environmental approach, employment practice, customer service and more.
The awards are organised by the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) and its president, Andrew Crook, is rooting for the hopefuls: “Sinking your teeth into a portion of chip shop chips is one of life’s simplest but greatest pleasures, however, the amount of knowledge and care that goes into it is astounding, it’s an art! There’s nothing our most successful entrants this year don’t know about soil environment, potato varieties, seasonal differences, cooking methods, oil selection, the list goes on! The passion they are showing is infectious and we are thrilled for them all.”
Sponsoring the Field to Frier award is Isle of Ely Produce, which supplies more than two million bags of potatoes into the fish and chip industry each year. It has been joined again this year as an award partner by the Agrico variety Babylon. Babylon is a relatively new variety that has been trialled at fish and chip shops across the UK with great success over the last few years.
Isle of Ely Produce Director Oliver Boutwood says: “We are thrilled to educate fish and chip shops across the UK on how to choose, store, fry and finally serve the perfect chip. Our Field to Frier Top 10 have all proved their knowledge thus far and we wish them luck in the next round!”
Alex Moore, National Sales Manager for Agrico, adds: “Many of these finalists have tried Babylon and educated their customers on what breeds are best for them to use at the right time. We are proud to be part of this process.”
The shortlisted fish and chip shops for the Field to Frier award are:
Greater Manchester
Taylors, Stockport
Kent
Newington Fish Bar, Ramsgate
Leicestershire
Frydales, Leicester
Lincolnshire
Linfords Traditional Fish and Chips, Market Deeping
London
Stones Fish & Chips, Acton
Norfolk
French’s Fish Shop, Wells-next-the-Sea
Surrey
Seafare Guildford
Scotland
Aberdeenshire
Garioch Fish Bar, Inverurie
Redcloak Fish Bar, Stonehaven
Ayrshire
The Fish Works, Largs
The next judging round will see seven businesses eliminated. The final three will head to the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London on 26 February to find out who will be named potato master.
Tickets for the National Fish & Chip Awards are available from https://thefishandchipawards.com/event-tickets/. For more information and bits on the National Fish & Chip Awards, please visit: www.thefishandchipawards.com.