Ten businesses have been revealed as top of the cropsfor the Field to Frier category for the National Fish and Chip Awards 2024.
Fish and chip shops around the UK have been showcasing excellency with their knowledge of potatoesand the care and chip preparation required to deliver high-quality standards. An industry panel of judges has hashed it out with entries sliced down to the top 10.
The Field to Frier category is sponsored by Isle of Ely Produce, which is responsible for supplying over two million bags of potatoes into the fish and chip industry every year. The company has been joined this year as an award partner by the Agrico variety Babylon. Babylon is a relatively new variety that has been trialled at fish and chip shops across the UK with great success over the last two years.
Andrew Crook, president at the National Federation of Fish Friers, organiser of the awards, says: “We can all relate to the joyous moment of taking that first bite of a chip fresh from the frier. The amount of skill it takes to get the perfect balance of textures, uniform colour and moreish flavour shouldn’t be underestimated. The Field to Frier award is a fantastic opportunity for us to congratulate businesses for being at the top of their game.
“Many of the applications came in following the annual Isle of Ely Open Day where attendees learn so much about how to choose, store and fry potatoes so we’re thrilled to see so many shortlisted from across the country.”
Alex Moore, sales manager for Agrico, said: “We have been working with Isle of Ely and Chippy Chat to champion best practice in regard to new varieties. Babylon is one variety which has already tested well in chippies across the UK. We are thrilled to be a co-sponsor of the Field to Frier Award at the 2024 National Fish and Chip Awards and wish the ten listed shops the best of luck. We also look forward to working with the shops and sending them some Babylon to trial.”
Isle of Ely Director Oliver Boutwood said: “This award is crucial for us to help educate shops on the basics of how to get the most from their potato supplies. Knowing about which varieties suit them best (this changes by geographic area), how to store and treat the potatoes and also making the best chips from what is available at any given time will help us all to serve great chips every time.”
The 10 fish and chip businesses that have made the cut are:
Scotland
The Fish Works, Largs
County Durham
Bells Fish and Chips, Durham
Tyne & Wear
Pantrini’s, Whitley Bay
Yorkshire
The Fish Bank, Sherburn-in-Elmet
Herefordshire
Fiddlers Elbow Fish & Chips, Leintwardine
Wales
Finney’s Fish and Chips, Anglesey
Shipdeck, Caerphilly
Essex
Henley’s of Wivenhoe, Wivenhoe
Kent
Newington Fish Bar, Ramsgate
Devon
Pier Point, Torquay
Further judging rounds will commence shortly to whittlethe shortlist to five and then to three final businesses.The category winner will be announced at the awards ceremony on 28 February at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London.
For more information and bits on the National Fish and Chip Awards, please visit: www.thefishandchipawards.com.
