The inaugural English Fish and Chip Awards, held in Manchester this week, have named the best fish and chip shops across England, with five Merseyside establishments receiving honours. The awards, organised by Paramount Creative, feature categories such as Dine In, Family-Run, Coastal, City Centre, Historic, Sustainable, Menu and Mobile, alongside regional Best Fish & Chips and Best Fish & Chip Shop titles.
Merseyside Winners and Highly Recommended
Among the Merseyside honourees, Chippy T in Southport won Best Fish & Chips in the North West and was highly recommended for Best Fish Fryer of the Year. Fylde Fish Bar Marshside in Southport received highly recommended nods for Best Dine-In Fish & Chips, Best Family Run Business, and Best Fish & Chips in the North West. Pisces in Heswall was highly recommended for Best Fish & Chip Shop in the North West and Best Fish Fryer of the Year. The Good Catch in Formby earned a highly recommended mention for Best Multi-Site Operator. Harpers Fish and Chips in Merseyside was also highly recommended for Best Fish & Chips in the North West.
Judging Process and Director's Comments
Warren Paul, awards director at Paramount Creative, said: “It’s truly humbling to see the reactions from our winners and highly recommended - to see what it means to the people behind the businesses. That is the entire reason motivating us to stage these events.” He added that judges visit each finalist and scores determine the results, except for the Best Fish Fryer category, decided by a live cook-off. “We are at pains to ensure our results are accurate, fair and deserved and always will be. We have to make sure our winners are the very best,” Paul said.
Supporting Local Businesses
Paul emphasised the importance of the awards in supporting the hospitality sector, which faces significant pressure. “The English Fish and Chip Awards are about shining a spotlight on those who truly deserve recognition... It’s potentially a lifeline in these very challenging times for all businesses, with the hospitality sector under more pressure than most. It’s vital to support local businesses in your area, or these traditional family spots simply will not exist in the future.” He encouraged the public to nominate and vote for their local favourites in future editions. The full list of winners is available on the awards website.
