A cut above the rest(aurant): National awards reveal fish and chip finalists

The National Fish & Chip Awards has reached a fork in the road in the Restaurant of the Year category, saying goodbye to half the contenders and announcing the five fantastic fish and chip restaurants continuing on as 2026 competition finalists.

The sit-down fish and chip experience is one of the most wonderful traditions in British culture and brilliant restaurants in Bristol, Devon, Norfolk and Yorkshire, are doing it in unforgettable style, whether that’s using secret family recipes or cooking up a high-end take on traditional menus.

 

The National Fish & Chip Awards has been defining what outstanding looks like for 38 years and is the go-to competition for businesses that want to break new ground in the industry. To be considered an ambassador for excellence requires entrants to undergo a full-scale assessment where sector specialists delve into all areas of the eateries.

When it comes to judging, the committee looks for key characteristics such as proven sustainability, consistent quality and outstanding service and it’s these five fish and chip restaurants that have successfully met these criteria.

Bristol

Noah’s

Devon

Squires Fish Restaurant & Take Away, Braunton

Norfolk

No1 Cromer

Yorkshire

Trenchers of Whitby

Whitby's Restaurant & Take Away, Rotherham

 

Andrew Crook is the president of the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), which organises the event, says the awards brings the industry together to celebrate its finest. “We are so excited for these five businesses which have been set apart as the UK’s foremost fish and chip restaurants!

“The contenders have such love for what they do, selecting only quality produce for customers and placing much attention to detail into how the fish, potatoes and other produce and ingredients are prepared and cooked, so that every bite is knock-out. Having restaurants like these in our towns and cities is essential for keeping our great British tradition alive and the beauty of the awards process is that it helps chippies maintain and elevate standards.”

Dan Rosser, chef/owner at the family-owned Noah’s in Bristol says: “Reaching the Top 5 in the Fish & Chip Restaurant of Year category is an amazing achievement for the team, and we are super proud to get this far. Hopefully what we do day in day out is enough to take the top spot. We are really looking forward to London in February whatever the outcome.”

To determine which one of the five has truly mastered the art of hospitality, anonymous in-person quality checks grading the food, setting and customer interaction will take place. It will be a nail-biting wait for all the finalists who will be invited to the awards ceremony on 25 February at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, to find out who will take on the mantle from current Restaurant of the Year winner, Bells Fish & Chips (Framwellgate Moor) in Durham.

It’s a trio of independent, family-owned business – Friars Pride, Henry Colbeck and V.A. Whitley - known as the Q Partnership – that are the sponsors for this year’s category, which has an impressive 280 years’ collective experience in supplying the UK fish and chip market with goods and services.

Seafood from Iceland is also thrilled to once again offer the winner and two runners-up an unforgettable journey to Iceland’s remote and breathtaking Westfjords. This unique experience will give them the opportunity to discover the heart of Iceland’s seafood industry firsthand – from the pristine waters to the passionate people behind it.

For more information and bits on the National Fish & Chip Awards, please visit: www.thefishandchipawards.com.