Tracy Stock, owner of Chippy T in Southport, said winning a regional award less than two years after opening feels "surreal." The 50-year-old, originally from Huyton, has worked in the trade for 35 years but opened her own shop only 23 months ago after encouragement from her husband. Chippy T was named Best Fish & Chips in the North West at The English Fish and Chip Awards.
Award win came as a shock
Stock told the ECHO she still hasn't "really taken it all in." She said: "I've never had my own shop before. My husband just thought it was about time I went on my own. He'd noticed this spot was empty for a while, so he went ahead and made an inquiry. After that, everything happened really quickly."
Customers nominated the shop for the award. Stock said: "We got an email to say we'd been nominated, so obviously some of our customers had put us forward. Then we were invited to enter, and later found out we'd been shortlisted in the top 20. There were about four other shops from the area in the competition, too."
At the awards ceremony, Stock was initially disappointed when a "Highly Commended" award was announced. She said: "When they announced the 'Highly Commended' award, I thought that was it and that we hadn't won. Then they called out Chippy T, and I just couldn't believe it. I must be doing something right. I certainly hope so."
Gluten-free menu sets chippy apart
One of Chippy T's biggest selling points is its extensive gluten-free menu. Stock, who has coeliac disease herself and has family members with the condition, made inclusivity a priority from day one. She said: "Since opening, I've wanted families to be able to come out together and everyone eat the same sort of food. I've got an alternative for almost everything on the menu apart from two items, and I don't charge extra for gluten-free."
Despite the specialist offering, traditional fish and chips remain the shop's biggest seller. Stock sources her fish from local supplier Kevin Peet, a fishmonger based in Churchtown. She added: "People obviously come to us for the fish and chips, but our salt and pepper chicken and king prawns have become really popular too."
Family-run business with loyal customers
The business is very much a family affair. Stock's husband Matt helps out, while her son Mathew works full-time at the shop. Her daughter Emilee has been involved since day one, and her great-niece Kiara is also part of the team. Stock never expected the business to grow so quickly. She said: "I thought I'd just be working on my own with my husband helping in the evenings. Instead, we've got a fantastic team of nine. They're amazing. It really is a family business."
Regular customers often shout "just the usual please," which Stock sees as a sign of success. She said: "It's amazing when customers come in and you can ask, 'Is it your usual?' or they shout over asking for 'my usual'. That's when you know you've got regular customers." She also noted that her generous portions encourage sharing: "I've also been told I'm not shy with my portions, so quite a few people end up sharing a fish and chips and that's what keeps them coming back."
Other Merseyside winners
The English Fish and Chip Awards were held in Manchester last week, with several Merseyside businesses recognised across categories including Dine In, Family-Run, Coastal, City Centre, Historic, Sustainable, Menu and Mobile, alongside regional Fish and Chips and Fish and Chip Shop awards. The awards are organised by Paramount Creative, with awards director Warren Paul saying he was thrilled by the response to the first English edition of an event that has been established in Scotland for years.
As well as winning the North West title for Chippy T, Stock was also named runner-up in the Best Fish Fryer in England competition. She said: "I was up against some really strong competition from across England. To finish in the top five was absolutely amazing. It's our first time being nominated and our first time winning. I still can't quite believe it."
