The definitive guide to Britain's finest fish suppers has been published, with the prestigious Fry Awards announcing its 2025 winners. The annual list, a bible for chip connoisseurs, names the nation's top 50 takeaways and 10 best sit-down restaurants, celebrating excellence in this beloved culinary tradition.
Secret Judges and Stringent Standards
Compiled by Fry Magazine, the rankings are the result of a rigorous, months-long process. Undercover judges visited chippies across the country, assessing them on critical criteria including the quality of the food, cleanliness, customer service, and overall value for money. Only establishments achieving an exceptional pass mark of 96% or higher in both the takeaway and restaurant categories were honoured with a place on the list.
Now in their thirteenth year, the 2025 awards underscore the enduring popularity of fish and chips, even amidst ongoing economic pressures. Competition organiser Reece Head praised the sector's resilience, stating: "These shops have shown remarkable dedication, adapting to today's challenges. They continue to prioritise customers, maintain exceptional standards, and find innovative ways to keep this classic meal affordable."
Regional Champions and Surprising Omissions
The geographical spread of winners tells a story of its own. Yorkshire emerged as the undisputed takeaway champion, securing seven spots on the top 50 list. Notable entries from the region include Lighthouse Fisheries of Flamborough and Two Gates Fisheries.
Essex also made a strong showing with four takeaways recognised, highlighting the quality found in its popular coastal towns. Meanwhile, the top 10 restaurant list paints a picture of coastal excellence, with venues spanning from Devon to Glasgow, many nestled in charming seaside locations.
London's presence, however, was notably limited. The capital managed just a single entry across both lists, with Toff's of Muswell Hill flying the flag as the lone London representative in the top 10 restaurants.
A Celebration of Accessible Quality
The awards highlight that a superb fish and chip experience isn't confined to fancy dining rooms. "Whether served in a restaurant, a takeaway, or from a mobile unit, the Fry Awards prove that quality fish and chips can be enjoyed anywhere," Head added. Starting the year as an award winner is seen as a significant boost for businesses, setting a positive tone for the year ahead.
For customers, the list serves as an essential guide to tracking down a perfect, golden-battered meal. The full roll call of the 50 best takeaways, listed alphabetically, is as follows:
- Ainsworth’s Fish & Chips, Caernarfon
- Angel Lane Chippie, Penrith, Cumbria
- Angell’s Fisheries, Newark, Nottinghamshire
- Batterfly Fish & Chips, Surbiton, Surrey
- Bredon Village Fish and Chip Shop, Bredon, Worcestershire
- Callaway’s Fish & Chips, Dorchester, Dorset
- Churchill’s Fish & Chips Langney, Eastbourne, East Sussex
- Farnham’s at Fontygary, Rhoose, Vale Of Glamorgan
- Fiddlers Elbow, Leintwardine, Herefordshire
- Fintans Fish & Chip Co. Llanishen, Cardiff
- Fishnchickn, Hutton, Brentwood, Essex
- French’s Fish Shop, Wells next the Sea, Norfolk
- Garioch Fish Bar, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire
- Greg & Lou’s, Redruth, Cornwall
- Henley’s of Wivenhoe, Colchester, Essex
- Hiks, Brynhyfryd, Swansea
- Hirds Family Fisheries, Halifax, West Yorkshire
- Howe & Co 55, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
- Joe’s Traditional Fish and Chips, Strabane, County Tyrone
- Kellaway’s Fish and Chips, Truro, Cornwall
- Kirbys of Horsforth, Horsforth, Leeds
- Kirbys of Meanwood, Meanwood, Leeds
- Lighthouse Fisheries Of Flamborough, Flamborough, East Yorkshire
- Malt and Anchor, Cirencester, Gloucestershire
- Moore’s Fish & Chips, Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway
- Oysters Fish & Chips, Lightwater, Surrey
- Oysters Fish & Chips, Marlow Bottom, Buckinghamshire
- Pennington Plaice, Leigh, Greater Manchester
- Pier Point, Torquay, Devon
- Pisces, Fleetwood, Lancashire
- Portside Fish & Chips, South Elmsall, Leeds
- Portside Fish & Chips, Kirkstall Road, Leeds
- Quintiliani’s Fast Food, Hamilton, Larkhall, South Lanarkshire
- Redcloak Fish Bar , Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire
- Sea Blue Fisheries, Clowne, Derbyshire
- Sea Salt + Sole, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
- Seafront Chippy, Hornsea, East Yorkshire
- Shappy Wheels, Shap, Cumbria
- Shaws Fish And Chips, Dodworth, Barnsley, South Yorkshire
- Squires, Braunton, Devon
- Sykes Fish and Chips, Manchester
The elite top 10 restaurants for 2025 are: Catch in Giffnock, Glasgow; Eric's Fish and Chips in Hunstanton, Norfolk; Fish City in Belfast; Harbour Lights in Falmouth, Cornwall; Pier Point Bar and Restaurant in Torquay, Devon; Squires Fish Restaurant in Braunton, Devon; The Elite in Lincoln, Lincolnshire; The Magpie Cafe in Whitby, North Yorkshire; The Scallop Shell in Bath, Somerset; and Toff's of Muswell Hill in London.
