Three fish and chip shops in Greater Manchester have been officially recognised among the best in England at the inaugural English Fish & Chip Awards. Anchors Didsbury, Taylor's Fish and Chips in Woodley, and Wallgate Fish and Chips in Wigan all received Highly Recommended status in the Best Fish & Chips category for the North West.
Awards Ceremony in Manchester
The brand-new awards ceremony took place on Monday, 22 June, at the Midland Hotel in Manchester. It celebrated the crème de la crème of chippies from across England. Categories for the first edition included Dine In, Family-Run, Coastal, City Centre, Historic, Sustainable, Menu, and Mobile, as well as Best Fish and Chips and Best Fish and Chip Shop by region. Judges visited each finalist and their scores determined the winners, except for the Best Fish Fryer category, which was decided by a live cook-off on the day of the final.
Anchors Didsbury
Anchors Didsbury, a traditional English fish and chips takeaway run by the Brumby family since 2015, prides itself on high-quality food and excellent customer service. Their fish is sustainably caught, and chips are peeled and cut in store and twice cooked. They also serve pies from Lord of the Pies in Macclesfield. The shop offers vegetarian, vegan, halal options, and gluten-free batter every day except Fridays. Their chips, gravy, curry sauce, and mushy peas are always gluten-free. During weekdays, they offer a lunchtime meal deal, as well as meals for one, tray meals, family meals, and kids meals. Sharing the news on Facebook, the team wrote: "Highly Recommended - Best Fish & Chip Shop in the North West! A huge thank you to our amazing team at Anchors Didsbury and all of our customers!"
Taylor's Fish and Chips, Woodley
Taylor's Fish and Chips, located in the Woodley precinct, has won numerous awards over the years. Founded in 1966 in Hattersley, it moved to its current home in the mid-1980s. Customers have described it as 'brilliant' and 'simply the best', with one TripAdvisor reviewer claiming to have had a 'spiritual moment' trying their fish and chips. The team posted on social media: "Last night we attended the English Fish & Chip Awards 2026 at The Midland Hotel in Manchester. We’re incredibly proud to have been awarded Highly Recommended in the Best Fish & Chips category. This award is a reflection of the people in this photo. The hard work, dedication and pride they bring to Taylor’s every single day." In September 2025, the chippy was also shortlisted in the 'chip shop World Cup' and made the top 40 in The National Fish & Chip Awards for 2026.
Wallgate Fish and Chips, Wigan
Wallgate Fish and Chips in Wigan is loved by locals and visitors for its fish and chips, steak puddings, and chip barms. The team shared their win on Facebook: "A Proud Night for Wallgate Chippy. We are incredibly proud to announce that Wallgate Chippy has been recognised as Highly Recommended – Best Fish & Chips in the North West 2026 at the English Fish & Chip Awards Gala Final in Manchester. This achievement belongs to every member of our amazing team and to our loyal customers. Being recognised amongst the very best fish and chip shops in the North West is a tremendous honour."
Awards Director Comments
Awards Director Warren Paul expressed his delight at the response to the first English edition of the event, which has been successful in Scotland for years. He 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: “The English Fish and Chip Awards are about shining a spotlight on those who truly deserve recognition. It’s not about ego or glory – 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 business in your area, or these traditional family spots simply will not exist in the future.”
