Double award delight as County Durham and Darlington chippies crowned best in UK
The prestigious awards, organised by the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), celebrate excellence in the industry across various categories, including quality, sustainability, customer service, and innovation.
Yarm Road Fish and Chips - Takeaway of the Year (Image: NATIONAL FISH AND CHIP AWARDS) Both winners emerged victorious after a rigorous judging process involving interviews, mystery taste tests, and business assessments.
Yarm Road Fish and Chips in Darlington claimed the top spot in the Takeaway of the Year category, beating stiff competition from The Fish Works in Largs, Scotland, and Kellaway's Fish and Chips in Truro, Cornwall.
Will Burrell, director-manager of Yarm Road Fish and Chips, expressed his excitement: 'Well, we can't quite believe it! To be mentioned alongside these fantastic finalists is an honour, but to win is beyond our wildest dreams.'
Bell's Fish and Chips - Restaurant of the Year (Image: NATIONAL FISH AND CHIP AWARDS) 'Our biggest thanks go to our amazing team who have worked tirelessly to perfect our craft. And, of course, we are incredibly grateful to our wonderful customers who have supported us throughout the years.'
Since opening eight years ago, Yarm Road Fish and Chips has become a beloved local institution, known for its high-quality food and friendly service.
In the Restaurant of the Year category, Bell's Fish and Chips (Framwellgate Moor) in Durham took the title, surpassing Malt and Anchor in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, and Trenchers Spanish City in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear.
Recommended reading:
Barnard Castle biker died after suffering brain injury in head-on smash
Darlington dental centre praised for fixing residents' issues - but problems continue
Padel courts plan approved for former Wickes site in Darlington
Graham Kennedy, Managing Director of Bell's Fish and Chips, expressed his pride in the achievement: 'We are delighted to be recognised as Restaurant of the Year at the National Fish & Chip Awards 2025. This is the result of 38 years of hard work in our amazing industry.'
'We invest in the best, from staff training to quality produce, and our team gives it their all every day to ensure the best possible experience for our customers.'
Andrew Crook, President of the NFFF, praised both winners for setting new benchmarks in the industry: 'Both Yarm Road Fish and Chips and Bell's Fish and Chips have demonstrated outstanding commitment to quality and customer service. Their success is a testament to their dedication, and they are shining examples of excellence in the fish and chip sector.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Eater
04-08-2025
- Eater
One of Capitol Hill's Most Celebrated Restaurants Has Abruptly Closed
Capitol Hill's Stateside, where the Vietnamese-French food has been drawing rave reviews since it opened a decade ago, is now permanently closed, owner Eric Johnson announced in a short Instagram post on Monday, August 4. 'Thanks for the memories Seattle!!!' read the announcement in full. This is something of a shock to the Seattle dining world. Stateside has been a critical darling since it opened; it was Seattle Met's Restaurant of the Year in 2015, and the magazine singled out its iced-coffee creamsicles, crispy duck fresh rolls, and chili cumin pork ribs. Stateside was also known for its crispy chicken served with a master stock that Johnson and his team have been using and reusing for literal years. In 2016, Stateside opened a sibling bar next door, called Foreign National, and together the two businesses have become cornerstones of the local scene. 'Almost a decade in, Stateside is still a Seattle go-to,' wrote the New York Times when it put Stateside on its most recent list of the city's best restaurants. Johnson opened Stateside after years of working in high-end kitchens in Paris, New York, and China. In 2016, he told Munchies that 'I start with Vietnamese food as a baseline for my cooking and I take some liberties in Chinese and French directions.' In that interview, he said that Stateside has dealt with skepticism from a couple different directions — from Vietnamese people skeptical that a non-Vietnamese chef knows his way around their cuisine, and from diners conditioned to think that Vietnamese food should be cheap. Judging by the restaurant's success and longevity, there aren't a lot of skeptics left. On Thursday, July 31, Johnson announced that Foreign National would be closing after that night. Stateside is closing with even less notice — there will be no farewell tour, no time for guests to get one last taste of that master stock. Reached by email, Johnson said that the closures were due to the lease being up. Eater Seattle All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Yahoo
Uber Eats reveals nominees from Scotland for Restaurant of the Year Awards
Uber Eats is turning up the heat on the UK & Ireland food scene with the return of its hotly anticipated Restaurant of the Year Awards. Back for its fourth year, the 2025 edition introduces a 'game-changing' new category spotlighting rising hospitality stars under 27 - and keeps the stakes high with a £100,000 prize for the Restaurant of the Year. The nominees for Scotland include: YAYAS - Glasgow Non Viet – Glasgow Noodles and Dumplings 兰州拉面 – Edinburgh Okome – Glasgow Porto Piri Piri – Glasgow Fatt Boyz – Edinburgh Thai2Go – Edinburgh Piatto – Glasgow Shawarma King – Glasgow Hook'd - Glasgow Joining the judging panel are some of the most recognisable names in food culture today: Levi Roots, famed entrepreneur and musician; Clodagh McKenna, Irish celebrity chef and TV host; and last year's standout winner Natty Crutchfield, whose restaurant went from cult hit to national fame. Now in its fourth year, the awards recognise the incredible contributions of small and independently run restaurants to their local communities and the food industry. In 2025, one standout restaurant will be crowned Restaurant of the Year, winning £100,000 to invest in their growth. All finalists will also receive a £5,000 prize and a tailored support package from Uber Eats to help boost their business. READ MORE: Family has 'big plans' for pub in historic Scottish village after purchase Key ingredient for success as Scottish restaurant and bar group seeks new venues Can this landmark pub remain unique in a world of chains? This year, Uber Eats will launch the Next Gen Trailblazer Award, a brand-new honour designed to spotlight hospitality entrepreneurs under the age of 27 who are innovating, inspiring, and disrupting the food scene. The winner will receive a £10,000 business development grant and support package. The new award will be judged by Seema Pankhania, Content Creator and celebrated author of the best-selling cookbook Craveable. Matthew Price, General Manager of Uber Eats UK, Ireland and Northern Europe, said, 'The Restaurant of the Year Awards are not just celebrating restaurants, we're investing in the future of food. The new Next Gen Trailblazer Award is a bold step in backing the young innovators who are rewriting the rules of hospitality'. Uber Eats is once again inviting the public to nominate their favourite local restaurants via The awards ceremony will take place in Here @ Outernet in London in 2025, where all regional winners and trailblazers will gather to celebrate their achievements, alongside media, industry leaders and special guests.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Yahoo
Darlington fish and chip shop named UK's best takeaway is expanding
A family-run fish and chip shop in Darlington, which was crowned the nation's best takeaway this year, is to open a new restaurant in the heart of town. Yarm Road Fish and Chips was named Fish and Chip Takeaway of the Year 2025 at the National Fish & Chip Awards in February, after a rigorous assessment process run by the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF). The top prize recognises quality, innovation, and customer service in Britain's best-loved food industry. The Yarm Road Fish and Chips team win Best Takeaway at the NFFF Awards 2025 (Image: NFF Awards) The chippy is owned by Graeme and Julie Burrell, and with the help of son Will, they have thrived for the past eight years. On Friday, June 13, Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen visited the chippy to congratulate the family. He said: "This is a fantastic local success story. Graeme, Julie and Will have built something really special - a family-run business that's proudly putting Darlington on the map. "Winning a national award like this is no small feat, especially in such a competitive field. It shows the quality, the passion, and the work ethic behind every portion they serve. "It's another example of the brilliant businesses we have across our region - and I can't wait to see their new restaurant open its doors very soon". Graeme Burrell, son Will and staff at Yarm Road Fish and Chips pictured with Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen (Image: TVCA) Since Graeme and Julie opened the Darlington shop eight years ago, the family business has grown into a community staple attracting customers from far and wide. During busy periods, the shop can fry up to 50 fish every 15 minutes, going through more than 600kg of chips in a single day. All dishes are cooked in traditional beef dripping, and the menu includes homemade fish cakes and the shop's signature crispy batter - which is a closely guarded family secret. Recommended Reading This North East home could sell for as low as £20,000 - but there's quite a catch Village pub and restaurant known for good value rebounds as an Italian eatery We tried the newest deli in Darlington and were blown away by the dishes on offer Following their success in the Fish and Chip Takeaway of the Year 2025, the Burrell's are applying the finishing touches to a new restaurant expansion, after having purchased the former newsagents next door. Graeme Burrell said: "We still can't quite believe we took the top prize – after the third and second place takeaways were named, we didn't think for a moment that we would have won first place. For our shop in Darlington to win is a dream come true. "Our team have put their heart and soul into making this happen, and we're so proud to bring the award home to our town. The support from our customers and the wider community has meant the world to us".
