Fish and chips is the top take-away

Fish and chips is still the nation's favourite take-away, according to a new survey from the Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish).

Despite stiff competition from the likes of the chicken tikka massala, UK consumers still gobbled up twice as many fish and chip meals as Indian take-aways in 2005.

In total, Brits gorged on 439 million chip shop meals, compared with 93 million Indian meals, the nearest competitor to the traditional dish.

Friday still makes up the bulk of the catch, with 20% of all out-of-home meals purchased on that day coming from the local chippie. The traditional take-out choice is so popular at the end of the week that 84.4 million fish and chip meals are eaten on that day.

Despite the healthy numbers, the £1b fish and chip shop sector has continued to grow and there are now 11,500 shops in the UK.

Seafish chief executive John Rutherford said: "This is a magnificent achievement for an industry which has been part of out national culture for more than 150 years."

The top 10 chippies in the country will compete for the Best Fish and Chip Shop of the Year title on 1 February in London, which is being fronted once again by chef Brian Turner (pictured with last year's winners).

By Naomi Leach

Get your copy of Caterer and Hotelkeeper every week - click here to subscribe and save 25%.