In a prestigious ceremony held last night at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London, a takeaway in York was officially crowned the best fish and chip shop in Britain. The Scrap Box, operated by brothers Aman and Gavin Deshi, clinched the coveted Takeaway of the Year title at The National Fish & Chip Awards 2026, with judges lauding their 'sensational' offerings.
A Triumph for Yorkshire
Aman, aged 36, and Gavin, 33, emerged victorious in the 38th iteration of the UK's official fish and chip competition, which has been running since 1988. Their win highlights Yorkshire's dominance in the sector, as the region boasted the most nominations for the best takeaway award, with four entries. Scotland followed with two nominations, while chippies in London, Essex, Oxford, and Durham each had one.
The Scrap Box was one of four Yorkshire-based establishments nominated, underscoring the area's strong reputation for this beloved British dish. In second place was The Fish Works in Largs, Scotland, and third place went to Shaws Fish & Chips of Dodworth in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
The 'Oscars' of the Industry
Aman Deshi, owner of Britain's top fish and chip shop, expressed his elation, stating, 'There are so many outstanding fish and chip shops across the UK, and countless awards, but this is the one every chippy dreams of – the Oscars of our industry.' He added, 'With the most rigorous judging and the highest calibre of past winners, it’s a true honour to be recognised at this level. To represent the very best of fish and chips for the year ahead is both humbling and hugely meaningful to our team and a testament to the craft, care, and consistency we put into every portion.'
Rigorous Judging Process
The awards, described as 'by the industry for the industry,' are widely regarded as the cornerstone event for the fish and chip sector. They aim to acknowledge and honour outstanding businesses and individuals serving this iconic dish. Each year, hundreds of entries are submitted, with a panel of fish-frying experts selecting an initial top 40 based on criteria such as skill, taste, operational and environmental sustainability, product quality, training and development, and customer service.
Andrew Cook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers, noted that this year's competition was particularly complex for the judges to separate the winners. He said, 'We have so much admiration and respect for all our finalists and winners and especially our new Takeaway of the Year titleholder, The Scrap Box. Congratulations to Aman, Gavin and the team, and thank you for your service, passion and love for the greatest dish in the world.'
Comprehensive Assessment
The judging process involves interviews, skills tasks, and anonymous taste tests to whittle down the longlist to a top 10, followed by 'mystery visits' to determine the overall winner. Cook emphasised, 'Our judging process is robust and comprehensive covering operational and environmental sustainability, product quality, training and development, customer service and more. Finalists are assessed through interviews, skills tasks and anonymous taste tests to ensure gold standards are being upheld.'
He urged the public to continue supporting local chippies, saying, 'We ask everyone to please continue supporting their local chippy and help keep the legacy of the iconic dish thriving for generations to come.'
Other Award Winners
The awards feature 13 categories, including Restaurant of the Year, Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year, and the all-new Menu Innovation award. Notable winners include Trenchers of Whitby for Restaurant of the Year, James Ellams for Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year, and Monster Fish & Chips Co. for Newcomer of the Year.
Last year's Takeaway of the Year winner was Yarn Road Fish and Chips in Darlington, with owner Will Burrell highlighting their use of top-quality products and excellent customer service as key factors in their success.
Fish-and-chip businesses are celebrated as the backbone of the takeaway space, with Cook noting, 'The heritage is like no other and our winners represent tradition and the future to the highest degree.' This year's awards reaffirm the enduring appeal and high standards of this quintessential British cuisine.
