The winners of the competition for the UK’s best fish and chip shops, restaurants and fryers have been revealed today.
The National Fish and Chip Awards 2025 is being held at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London, with the ceremony celebrating the best of British in the industry.
There are 14 categories including Takeaway of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year and Fish and Chip Newcomer of the Year.
Abigail Barker is a Fryer at Millers Fish and Chips in Haxby, near York. She is one of four nominees up for the Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year Award.
The winners of the competition for the UK’s best fish and chip shops, restaurants and fryers have been revealed today
GB News
The other fryers hoping to win are James Ellams, from Fish & Chips, Weston Grove, Chester, Sebastian Harding Crook, from Squires in Braunton and Glen Morrison from Garioch Fish Bar, in Inverurie.
They are all aged 25 or under with a minimum of six months’ frying experience and represent the best upcoming talent. They caught the attention of the judging panel for their understanding of how to cook fish and chips consistently well.
GB News spoke to Abigail Barker from Millers Fish and Chips ahead of the awards. She said: “It’s really good what the Federation and Drywites do and run this competition, because it is us young fryers that will keep the fish and chip industry alive.
“So it’s us that has to keep it, so we have to maintain that and bring in new ideas, and what better way to do it than with the younger people.
“If it’s a fish burger, or in the past we’ve done a fish and chip burrito, so it’s stuff like that.
“We can feed everyone and you’ve still got your main bases of the traditional fish and chips, but you can bring in the fresh ideas and also have fish and chips in a different way.”
David Miller owns Miller’s Fish and Chips, in Haxby, near York. It is a fourth generation family business, run by the Miller family since 1968, who originally started their fish business on Shambles in the 1940s.
The team members are no strangers to winning awards – having previously been recognised as the ‘UK’s No.1 Fish and Chip Shop’.
David Miller said he is very proud of Abigail’s success in the contest and winning the Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year will boost her career.
He told GB News: “I think it’s just quite amazing that she’s [Abigail’s] got to this far to knock from top 20 to 8 to four and to get to London in her first attempt. It’s just mind blowing, really.
David Miller (pictured) said he is very proud of Abigail’s success in the contest and winning the Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year will boost her career
GB News
“In our shop, we’ve won Fish and Chip Shop of the Year in 2018, which is quite a long time ago, but you know, it sets you up for your working life.
“You become on that cup and you’re sort of held high, and it is like the Oscars of the fish and chip world, and it’s just a great thing to be part of.”
Visits to Britain’s fish and chip shops were down 17 percent last year, making the sector the biggest loser in UK foodservice, according data from research agency Circana.
With costs rising, it is a tough time for the industry. But Millers believe the key to custom is in value for money.
“The biggest challenge we’ve got is the price of commodities, electric, and obviously we’ve got the wages going up,” said David Miller, Owner of Millers Fish and Chips.
“But then I’m a great believer that 18-year-olds should be paid a proper wage. I think it’s it is a challenge at the moment, but I think good shops who stick to good fish and chips, get your portions right, advise people why it’s going up, I think you’ll be okay.
“I think fish is probably the biggest problem we’ve got coming this year because the quotas have been cut to 25 per cent on both cod and haddock. So that’s causing a bit of a problem for us.”
Millers Fish and Chips aims to batter today’s competition in London, but win or lose, the awards certainly put one of the nation’s best loved dishes in the spotlight.
The full list of The National Fish and Chip Awards 2025 are:
Takeaway of the Year
Kellaway’s Fish and Chips, Truro
Yarm Road Fish and Chips, Darlington
Angell’s Fisheries, Newark-on-Trent
The Fish Bank, Sherburn-in-Elmet
Mister C’s, Selby
The Scrap Box, York
Redcloak Fish Bar, Stonehaven
The Fish Works, Largs
Finney’s Fish and Chips, Benllech
Zero Plus Fish & Chips, Cardiff
Restaurant of the Year
Bells Fish & Chips (Framwellgate Moor), Durham
Pier Point, Torquay
Malt and Anchor, Cirencester
Toff’s of Muswell Hill (The Chesterford Group)
Trenchers Spanish City, Whitley Bay
Fish and Chip Mobile Operator of the Year
A Salt ‘n’ Battery, Crowle
Country Fried, Blackburn
Time and Plaice, Doncaster
Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year
Abigail Barker – Millers Fish & Chips, Haxby
James Ellams – Fish & Chips, Weston Grove, Chester
Sebastian Harding Crook – Squires, Braunton
Glen Morrison – Garioch Fish Bar, Inverurie
Fish and Chip Newcomer of the Year
Alan’s Fish and Chips in Cullompton, Devon
Mackerel Sky in Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire
Skipper Jacks in Clogher, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Fish and Chip International Operator of the Year
Fez and Cip, Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei)
Beach Buns, Strandhill, County Sligo (Ireland)
Affenbar, Tokyo (Japan)
Field to Frier
Taylors, Stockport
Newington Fish Bar, Ramsgate
Redcloak Fish Bar, Stonehaven
Environment and Sustainable Business
Pisces, Wirral
Two Gate Fisheries, Barnsley
Finney’s, Benllech
Community Engagement
Pier Point, Torquay
Brockley’s Rock, Brockley
Zero Plus, Cardiff
Training and Development
Eric’s Fish & Chips, Thornham
Mr C’s, Selby
Taylors, Stockport
NFFF Quality Accreditation Champion
Newington Fish Bar, Ramsgate
Harrison’s Fish and Chip Co, Botley
Scrap Box, York
Digital Marketing Award
Eric’s Fish & Chips, Thornham
J-Henry’s Fish and Chips Hedge End, Southampton
Employee of the Year
Georgia Lye from Seafare Guildford
Zak Bishop from Squires Fish Restaurant & Takeaway, Braunton
Vaughn Jones from Scarlett’s Fish and Chips, Trearddur Bay, Anglesey
Supplier of the Year
Dennis Crooks
KFE
VA Whitley
More information can be found here.