Britain boasts thousands of fish and chip shops, yet the debate over where to find the very finest has been settled, with one standout establishment tucked away in a stunning coastal town. Each year, The Fry Awards bestow their coveted accolades upon the nation's best fish and chip offerings, and for 2026 they have unveiled their definitive top 50 list.
These rankings are the result of months of undercover assessments by judges, who sample fare from chippies up and down the country and evaluate them across a range of criteria, including food quality, cleanliness, staff, and value for money.
Among those receiving special recognition was the much-loved David's Fish and Chips in Brixham, Devon. The charming fishing town is built around its historic harbour, where seafood lies at the very heart of daily life. On most days, you can watch the dayboats heading out to sea in search of the catch, which is brought back to shore and sold at the town's renowned fish market.
It is this unwavering commitment to quality seafood that allows the chippy to flourish, and the team holds firm to its own standards when it comes to sourcing top-notch ingredients. David's website states: "We only use the best quality produce available here at Davids, such as 'hook and line' caught haddock and chicken bites made with 100% chicken breast meat."
Set a short distance from the harbour, near its entrance, lies Breakwater Beach — a delightful sun-soaked spot renowned as one of the cleanest stretches of sand on the English Riviera. Visitors can while away the hours sunbathing or paddling before treating themselves to some mouth-watering fish and chips.
For those keen on swimming, Shoalstone Pool offers a fantastic alternative — a 53-metre seawater swimming pool perched right on the coastline, and one of the very few remaining in the country. Built into a natural rock pool that dates back to the Victorian era, this aquatic gem now serves as a wonderful retreat for a few hours of relaxation.
One customer of David's Fish and Chips shared on TripAdvisor: "Well if you're looking for fish and chips from probably one of the finest fish and chips shops on the south coast and probably top ten in England for quality and service, but when you get to taste it's flavours - pure freshness, just yummy."
Many have hailed it as the finest fish and chips in town. One review reads: "Best fish and chips we had in Brixham, and we tried a few! Chips were well cooked (best chips we had) and fish, as you would expect, was great quality, curry sauce had good consistency. Easily ordered online and good pick up." Diners can stroll around the corner and savour their meal alongside the harbour, or make their way to the beach and watch the waves drift in.
The surrounding area exudes a wonderfully tranquil, quintessentially British seaside charm — with the exceptional food simply serving as an added bonus.
