National Fish & Chip Awards names 10 regional winners

The 10 regional winners of the National Fish & Chip Awards 2012 have been revealed, ahead of the announcement of the nation's Independent Takeaway Fish & Chip Shop of the Year on 17 January.

All 10 regional finalists will enjoy a study trip to Norway, where they will learn about the supply chain of fish from Norway to the UK, to help them further improve their commitment to sustainability.

The national finalists are:

Scotland The Bay, Stonehaven
Wales Crispy Cod, Mid Glamorgan
Northern Ireland Pit Stop, Kilkeel
North-east Quayside, Whitby, North Yorkshire
North-west Seniors, Thornton, Lancashire
Midlands The Big Fish, Stratford Upon Avon
Eastern Linfords, Market Deeping
London & South-east Seafare, Guildford
Central & South Wigmore Fish & Chips, Luton
South-west Hanbury's, Babbacombe

The final 10 places were hard earned after an unannounced visit from industry judges sent by Seafish, which organises the competition. Shops were assessed on a wide variety of judging criteria including; product quality, customer service, food preparation procedures, hygiene, innovation, staff training and development, promotional activity and approaches to sustainable sourcing.

Nikki Hawkins, food service and events manager at Seafish, said: "This competition has been our fiercest yet, with each finalist facing stiff competition. The high standards and quality displayed by the UK's top 10 fish and chip take-aways is testament to the high standards of the industry and committed approach to a sustainable future."

With over 250 million fish and chip meals sold each year from over 10,500 shops across the UK, fish and chips remains the nation's favourite take-away.

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By Neil Gerrard

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