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The top 10 takeaway fish and chip shops in Britain for this year have been revealed, with the winner set to be crowned victorious tonight.
The shortlist for The National Fish & Chip Awards 2026's best chippies was announced this week - and they span the length and breadth of the UK.
Yorkshire boasts the most nominations for having the best fish supper with four shops on the shortlist, followed closely by Scotland with two.
Whereas London, as well as Oxford, Essex, and Durham each have one.
The National Fish & Chip Awards is the UK's official competition rewarding excellence within the chippy takeaway industry since 1988.
There are 14 categories, including the coveted Takeaway of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year and the all-new Menu Innovation award.
According to the organisers, the awards are created 'by the industry for the industry' and are widely regarded as the cornerstone event for the fish and chip sector.
They are intended to acknowledge and honour the outstanding businesses and individuals serving up the much-loved British dish.
Ross and Tiffany Irvin, owners of The Fish Works, Largs, Ayrshire, Scotland
Owner Lucas Lambrou stands outside The Fish Inn in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
Kyriacos Karoulla, manager of Brockley's Rock, in London, with his brother Sotiris Karoulla
Pictured: Graham Kennedy, owner of Bells Fish and Chips in Framwellgate, Durham
Every year, hundreds of entries are submitted by hopeful chip shop owners and a panel of fish-frying experts are tasked with selecting an initial top 40.
The panel is said to devise the industry's most rigorous judging process to ensure the sector is consistently achieving the highest standards.
Entries ticked a number of boxes including skill, taste, operational and environmental sustainability, product quality, training and development, as well as customer service.
The judges then perform interviews and assessments to whittle the longlist down to the top 10.
Then 'mystery visits' take place to decide the overall winner.
Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), which runs the awards says: 'Each category of the National Fish & Chip Awards has been carefully designed to recognise and celebrate the skill, dedication and expertise of the incredible talents running successful fish and chip shops.
'Our judging process is robust and comprehensive covering operational and environmental sustainability, product quality, training and development, customer service and more.
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Jonathan France, owner of The Fish Bank in Sherburn-in-Elmet, Yorkshire
The exterior of Shaws Fish and Chips in Barnsley, Yorkshire
Gavin and Aman Dhesi - the owners of The Scrap Box in North Yorkshire
Ryan Harrison - the owner of Harrison's Fish & Chip Co. in Oxford
Left to right: Danny Corbally, Denise Corbally, Amy Grimwood and Mark Corbally - the owners of Mister C's in Selby, Yorkshire
Pictured: Garioch Fish Bar in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
'Finalists are assessed through interviews, skills tasks and anonymous taste tests to ensure gold standards are being upheld.
'There's a lot of hard work and precision craftsmanship that goes into exceptional fish and chips and the lineup of 2026 finalists represent the very best in the industry.
'We are looking forward to celebrating all the incredible people and independent fish and chip businesses at the heart of our local communities, recognising their determination to deliver the most delicious portions of fish and chips to customers the only way they know how.
'So, we ask everyone to please continue supporting their local chippy and help keep the legacy of the iconic dish thriving for generations to come.'
The prestigious event - which is now in its 38th year - will take place today at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London.
Last year, Darlington-based Yarn Road Fish and Chips scooped top spot at the awards.
Having finished in second place the previous year, it was a particularly sweet victory for owner Will Burrell.
He said at the time: 'We're a cut above because we use the best products, packaging and have great customer service.
'It all comes together to provide a really great service.'
Full list of finalists