Pick of the crop

Rachel Walker asked this year’s National Fish & Chip Awards finalists to say what makes them special and to pick their favourite dish from their own menu. Here’s what they said.

Scotland: Frankie’s Fish & Chips
“We’re hoping that the quality of our seafood, its sustainability (98% is MSC-accredited), our modern approach and our sheer range of activities will make us stand out,” says manager John Gold. “This includes the Frankie’s Fish Course, a fun session that we run in local primary schools to introduce children to seafood and the importance of sustainability, and our charitable activities: we raised more than £10,000 for the Fishermen’s Mission with a charity cycle event last August, for example.”
John’s favourite menu item is the battered haddock and chips. “The fish is so fresh from the market every morning, it almost swims into the fryer.” Carlyn Kearney, Young Fish Fryer of the year in 2013, likes the battered Shetland scallops. “The batter is so light and the succulent sustainable scallops are to die for,” she says.
Frankie’s were runners-up in 2014 and will be hot favourites to do well again this year.
Frankie’s Fish & Chips
Brae, Shetland ZE2 9QJ
www.frankiesfishandchips.com

Wales: Penaluna’s Famous Fish & Chips
The eponymous Lee Penaluna trained under Michelin-starred chef Stephen Terry and was never a great lover of battered food, until he did a course at the NFFF training school and realised how good it could be. Ten years down the line, he gets just as excited by producing quality fish and chips as much as cooking “posh nosh”. His favourite dish off the menu is the MSC cod in a light batter.
Penaluna’s Famous Fish & Chips
36 High Street, Hirwaun, Aberdare, Mid Glamorgan CF44 9SW
www.penalunas.co.uk

Northern Ireland: FishCity
“We believe in only using the finest quality products, providing high quality, healthy food in an innovative and contemporary manner,” say husband-and-wife owners John and Grainne Lavery. “Our favourite food is our cod supper, sourced from sustainable shoals, coated in a light batter from a secret recipe handed down from Grainne’s parents.”
FishCity
69b Belfast Road, Ballynahinch, County Down BT24 8EB
www.fish-city.net

North East England: Mister C’s
“We’re MSC certified and sustainability is very important to us,” says Mark Corbally, co-director with his wife Denise. “So is the freshness of the fish: we mainly get Icelandic or Norwegian fish which has been frozen at sea. If I could pick one dish off the menu, then it’d be haddock with chips and mushy peas – with salt and vinegar on the chips, of course.
“We make a lovely crisp batter here. When I was younger, our local chippy in Leeds was run by a woman called Norma Vernon. When I went into the business, she took me under her wing and gave me a few hours’ tuition, and ended up giving me her traditional recipe – it had been passed down in her family for generations.”
Mister C’s Fish and Chips
61-63 Micklegate, Selby YO8 4EA
www.mistercs.co.uk

North West England: Papa’s Fish & Chips
“We’re hoping our passion for the industry and dedication to serving great quality traditional fish and chips sets us apart,” say co-owners Dino and George Papadamou. “We source the best ingredients sustainably and utilise the skills of past generations to prepare them to perfection. Our philosophy is to provide a professional service while staying true to our ‘family business’ morals: this is our family, serving yours.
“Our favourite menu pick is haddock and chips, with our light and crispy secret recipe batter, fried in a high quality beef dripping to seal in all the flavours – nothing could be more traditional or nostalgic. It reminds us of going to the seaside – it’s what we grew up on.”
Papa’s Fish & Chips
68 School Brow, Warrington, Cheshire WA1 2TA
www.papasfishandchips.com

Midlands: Simpsons Fish & Chips
“As an inland shop, we can’t rely on tourism or the nostalgia of fish and chips by the sea to bring in customers: to be successful we have to be great at what we do and be able to shout about it,” says James Ritchie. “Our aim is to show people that just because you’re not by the sea, it doesn’t mean you can’t still have a great fish and chip experience. It even has its benefits – but we don’t want to give away too much ahead of the competition!
“My favourite dish is cod and chips. We buy the largest cod possible and cut it ourselves, meaning every portion has large meaty flakes of fish. Coupled with a light, melt-in-the-mouth batter, well, you can’t beat it.”
Simpsons Fish & Chips
73-75 Priors Road, Cheltenham, GL52 5AL
www.simpsonsfishandchips.com

Eastern England: Burton Road Chippy
“We’re true believers in our product and menu innovation, and we hope that this will come through in our presentation,” say Des Anastasiou and Lesley Graves. When it comes to favourites from the menu, Des prefers battered cod because he enjoys its subtle taste and big white flakes; Lesley prefers pan-fried haddock with its sweeter taste.
Burton Road Chippy
169 Burton Road, Lincoln LN1 3LW
www.burtonroadchippy.co.uk

London & SE England: Papa’s Barn
“We feel that the standard of this year’s top 10 is the best ever, so we’re not giving anything away just yet!” says manager Gavin Lewis. Papa’s Barn was a finalist last year and finished third overall. Partner Theo Papa-Adams will be presenting again this year: he’s a charismatic, natural ambassador and Papa’s Barn has to be a strong contender for the top spot this year.
Papa’s Barn Fish & Chips Restaurant & Takeaway
497 London Road, Ditton, Aylesford, Kent ME20 6DB
www.papasbarn.co.uk
Central & South England: Broughton Fish & Chips
Owner Stephen Wilding hopes that his enthusiasm will set him apart, as well as his passion for “honest to goodness fish and chips”. He likes all his fish, but if he had to choose a favourite, then it’d be haddock – with salt and vinegar on the chips.
Broughton Fish & Chips
Unit 81, Tanfield Lane, Broughton, Milton Keynes, MK10 9NJ
www.broughtonfishandchips.co.uk

South & West England: Harbourside Fish & Chips
“We’re only six years old, so we’re actually quite young in comparison to some of our competition,” says manager Tom Hughes. “We think our views on healthier fish and chips demonstrate our vision for the future of this industry. Our favourite dish on the menu is the MSC-certified, char-grilled, line-caught haddock with a fresh salad with chips or a jacket! It has a brilliant flavour and is a much healthier option! Perfect in the new year!”
Harbourside Fish and Chips
35 Southside Street, Plymouth, Devon PL1 2LE
www.barbicanfishandchips.co.uk