The National Fish & Chip Awards is back for 2026 and the UK’s top 40 fish and chip shops have been revealed
17:28, 02 Sep 2025Updated 17:52, 02 Sep 2025
Taylors Fish and Chips in Woodley is up for a big award(Image: MEN)
A Stockport chippy described by its customers as ‘fabulous’ and ‘outstanding’ has been shortlisted in the ‘chip shop World Cup’ as one of the UK’s best.
The National Fish & Chip Awards is back for 2026 and to kick things off, the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) has revealed the UK’s top 40 chippies in the Takeaway of the Year category.
The fish and chip industry’s crown jewel event, the National Fish & Chip Awards boasts 14 categories, and honours the businesses that serve the crowd-pleasing favourite at the highest level.
Its 2026 edition and search for the best in the business in the Takeaway of the Year category has seen chippies from coastal hotspots, rural locations and major cities vying to scoop the prize from current titleholder Yarm Road Fish & Chips in Darlington, County Durham.
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Sector specialists have shortlisted 40 businesses to take through to the next round of extensive assessments which will focus on a range of criteria including product quality, hygiene, environmental and operational sustainability, customer service, and industry knowledge.
Amongst the 40 shortlisted takeaways there is only one Greater Manchester venue shortlisted – though it is a real gem.
The team at Taylor’s Fish and Chips, Woodley.(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
Taylors, a celebrated Stockport chippy, is located on Woodley precinct in Stockport, and is a firm favourite with locals.
It was founded in 1966 in Hattersley before moving to its current home in the mid-1980s, and has been described as ‘excellent’ in reviews shared online.
This wont be their first experience of the National Fish and Chip Awards though. Last year they made it into the top 40 as well, and manager Jamie Toland, who started working at the chippy as a 14-year-old, was also previously crowned Employee of the Year at the industry awards.
Andrew Crook, president of the (NFFF) commented: “We’ve received a wonderful collection of entries for Takeaway of the Year – it is the badge of honour that many in the industry strive for, and we are very excited to see new names on the list.
Inside Taylors chippy in Woodley, Stockport(Image: MEN)
This year we invited the public to encourage their favourite chippies to enter, and the campaign has proved successful as the judging panel can see hidden gems emerging at this early stage.
“We’re also delighted to see others giving it another go which shows a commitment to excellence by taking on board previous feedback and coming back in a stronger position.
“It’s going to be an unforgettable experience for the new top 40 takeaways, and we wish them all every success for what we believe is going to be an amazing display of skill, tradition and innovation.”
The National Fish & Chip Awards is regarded as the most prestigious competition of its kind in the UK.
Jamie Toland manager at Taylors Fish and Chip Shop in Woodley(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Those in the running will face a comprehensive appraisal of their businesses to ensure industry standards remain at their highest behind the scenes right through to customer experience.
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The next stage will see the 40 being halved for the semi-finals, with the top 10 finalists being named later in the year. The awards ceremony will take place in February in London to announce the new champion.
The top 40 takeaways representing the UK’s best for fish and chips are:
Bristol
Henbury Fryer, Bristol
Cornwall
Kellaway’s Fish and Chips, Truro
County Durham
Bells Fish and Chips, Durham
Grandpa’s Fish Bar, Durham
Devon
Alan’s Fish and Chips, Cullompton
Emerald Fish Bar, Newton Abbott
Taffs Fish and Chips, Torrington
Essex
The Fish Inn, Clacton-on-Sea
Greater Manchester
Taylors, Stockport
Hampshire
Mister Pink’s, Lymington
Mike’s Traditional Fish & Chips, Eastleigh
Kent
Lewis’s Fish and Grill, Maidstone
Newington Fish Bar, Ramsgate
Lancashire
Westend Fish and Chips, Oswaldtwistle
Lincolnshire
Catch 22, Tattershall
Hunters Fish and Chips, Louth
London
Brockley’s Rock, Brockley
Stones Fish and Chips, Acton
Merseyside
Portland’s Fish & Chips, Liverpool
Oxfordshire
Harrison’s Fish & Chip Co., Oxford
Somerset
Knights Fish Restaurant, Glastonbury
Suffolk
Orwell Fish & Chips, Felixstowe
Tulula’s Fish & Chips, Halesworth
Surrey
Seafare Guildford
Warwickshire
Harbury Catch, Warwick
West Midlands
Hawthorn Fish Bar, Birmingham
Yorkshire
Mister C’s, Selby
Shaws Fish and Chips of Dodworth, Barnsley
The Fish Bank, Sherburn-in-Elmet
The Scrap Box, York
Wales
Anglesey
Finney’s Fish and Chips, Benllech
Bridgend
O’ My Cod Bridgend
Glamorgan
Zero Plus Fish & Chips, Cardiff
Pembrokeshire
Dolphin Fish and Chips, The Parrog Goodwick
Northern Ireland
County Antrim
The Merchant Fish & Chips, Ballymena
Scotland
Aberdeenshire
Garioch Fish Bar, Inverurie