The nominees, spread across Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, North East England, North West England, Midlands, Eastern England, London & South East England, Central & Southern England and South West England, were judged by industry experts and visited by a mystery diner.
They were assessed on product quality, sustainable sourcing, marketing and customer service, and have now gone through to the next stage of the competition, determining regional champions and the UK top 20.
Industry standards
With a ceremony to be held at The Lancaster London Hotel on 20 January 2015, the National Fish & Chip Awards recognise the quality and choice offered by fish and chip shops across Britain.
Paul Williams, chief executive of Seafish, said: “These awards have not only improved the industry standards by consistently rewarding and testing businesses, they have also raised positive awareness of the issues surrounding sustainable fishing practices and encouraged shops to implement sustainable sourcing.
“Last year we witnessed some of the highest calibre of entrants ever. The bar is constantly rising and we can’t wait to see the top fryers battle it out this year.”
The top 10 regional shops in competition for the national award will be announced in October. They will be invited on a study trip to Norway, organised by the Norwegian Seafood Council to understand why the country is seen as one of the world’s most sustainable fishing nations.
Last year’s winner Stuart Fusco, owner of Quayside, said after winning “sales increased significantly”.
Top 60 shortlist
Scotland
Cromars, Fife
Frankie's Fish & Chips, Shetland
The Trawler, Sutherland
Palombos Fish & Chips, Dumbartonshire
Moore's Fish & Chips, Dumfries & Galloway
Dinos, Ayrshire
Wales
Hennighan's Top Shop, Powys
Simply Fish & Chips, Denbighshire
Penaluna's Famous Fish & Chips, Aberdare
Top Gun Fish & Chip Shop, Cardiff
The Crispy Cod, Rhondda Cynon Taf
Northern Ireland
The Dolphin Takeaway, Dungannon
FishCity , Ballynahinch
Darren Raffo, Belfast
The Chippy, Antrim
Scoff’s , Belfast
Co. Antrim
North East England
Carlo's of Morpeth, Northumberland
Fish & Chips at 149, Co. Durham
Oceans, Tyne & Wear
Whitby's Rotherham, Rotherham
Mister C's, N Yorkshire
Fish & Chips at 149, E Yorkshire
North West England
Pisces, Lancashire
The Fish House, Lancashire
Thornton Fisheries, Lancashire
Fylde Fish Bar, Southport
Fosters Fish & Chips, Cheshire
Papa's Fish & Chips, Cheshire
Midlands
Wollaston Fish Bar, West Midlands
SeaFish Restaurant, Derbyshire
Merchants, West Midlands
Winyates Chippy, Worcestershire
Pisces, Northants
Simpsons Fish & Chips, Gloucestershire
Eastern England
The Cods Scallops, Nottingham
Burton Rd Chippy, Lincolnshire
George's Fish Bar, Lincolnshire
Grosvenor Fish Bar, Norfolk
My Plaice Fish & Chips, Norfolk
French's Fish Shop, Norfolk
London & South East England
Henley's of Wivenhoe, Essex
Toff's of Muswell Hill, London
Poppies Fish & Chips, London
The Village Fish & Chips, Kent
The Smokehouse, Kent
Papa's Barn, Kent
Central & Southern England
Godfrey's, Hertfordshire
Broughton Fish & Chips, Buckinghamshire
Cox's of Letchworth, Hertfordshire
Ashley’s Fish & Chips, Hampshire
Best Fry, Hampshire
J Henrys, Hampshire
South West England
Harbourside Fish & Chips, Devon
The Scallop Shell, Somerset
Something Else Fishy, Somerset
Kingfisher Fish & Chips, Devon
Lakeside, Dorset
Bishopston Fish Bar, Avon
Simply Fish, Avon