BRILLIANT Redditch chippies the Golden Carp Chippy, and Winyates Chippy, have been named the best in the Midlands.
The chip shops, both owned by Theo Elinas, had been named on a shortlist of six earlier this month.
However after an exhaustive process both have come top in the regional heats of the annual National Fish & Chip Awards organised by Seafish.
They are now officially in the top 20 shops representing the best in the UK and will now compete in two further rounds of judging in their quest to become the nation’s number one chippy.
As part of the judging process, each shop is carefully assessed on a variety of elements including: sustainable sourcing policies, menu development and innovation, staff training policies and processes and wider marketing and promotional activity and techniques – and of course the quality of fish and chips on offer and the levels of customer service provided by staff.
Over the coming weeks the shops will undergo a further phase of mystery diner judging inspections in order to whittle the UK Top 20 down to a UK Top 10 shortlist, before the final stage of judging held in London in January 2019.
Theo is no stranger to success having come close to winning the overall title last year with the Golden Carp and he has made plain that it’s all down to a fantastic team work.
“It’s hard work, but it’s a team effort, and none of this could be achieved without everyone working together,” he said.
Marcus Coleman, chief executive Officer at Seafish, said: “This flagship award category showcases the leading fish and chip businesses across the country. These shops have demonstrated real commitment to quality in a number of areas, not just food, and have worked extremely hard to earn their place on this list.
“There’s a tremendous amount of talent to be seen across the UK Top 20, and we wish them all the best in the next round of judging as we know how much this competition means to all of them.”
The winner of the Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Award will be announced at The National Fish & Chip Awards’ 31st anniversary ceremony in London on 24 January 2019.
To view the full shortlist visit: http://www.fishisthedish.co.uk/national-fish-chip-awards or follow @fishisthedish #FishnChipAwards.
20 businesses are shortlisted across 10 judging regions: Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, North East England, North West England, Midlands, Eastern England, London & South East England, Central & Southern England and South West England.
