Wrexham and Flintshire chip shops aim for title award

Leader Live

a day ago

Whether it's a Friday night treat of fish, midweek battered sausage or pie, all with chips of course, we asked for the best of the best.
Readers nominated their favourite fryers from across Wrexham and Flintshire but who will make fish-story?
Sealing the deal could be those extras - gravy, curry sauce, mushy peas - or maybe it's above and beyond service.
Read more: 'We're humbled' - Meet the winner of best deli, butchers, farm shop 2025
Nominations from across the region were collected and counted to reveal our top 10.
Voting is now open, and voting forms can be found in the Leader until Friday, June 13.
Ahead of the big reveal, we get to know some of the finalists...
Chip-O-Dee - 14 Borras Road, Wrexham
Haci Deniz, owner of Chip-O-Dee Wrexham.
Owner Haci Deniz is no stranger to awards, having recently been shortlisted as a 2025 finalist as Best Kebab House in Wales in the British Kebab Awards.
The 32-year-old, who has had the business since 2020, often gives back to the community. At Christmas 2024, he donated presents for the patients at Nightingale House Hospice to give to their children and grandchildren.
Haci said: "I feel very happy to be in the top 10. As Chip-O-Dee owner we prepare and present our food with lots of effort. So to see us as Chip-O-Dee on the top 10 shows our customers' reward.
"It would mean a lot for me to win because Chip-O-Dee always offers good quality flavours. It would mean a lot for me to see our customer feedbacks.
"People come back to Chip-O-Dee because we offer our customers delicious and quality meals with a friendly welcome. Customer satisfaction is valuable to us, and presenting quality food is important for us.
"We thank all our customers who choose us."
The Big Fish - Chester Street, Mold
Alex Valyandis (centre) and the team at The Big Fish in Mold.
Alex Valyandis took over The Big Fish in Mold in 2022, and hasn't looked back.
The former pro MMA fighter now has a team of about eight helping him keep on top of demand at the popular chip shop.
Thirty two-year-old Alex, who previously worked with his dad in Yiannos Fish Bar in Wrexham, said: "It's been going really well and we've improved each year. We were welcomed with open arms."
On hearing the Big Fish had made it as a finalist, he said: "We were really surprised, we're only a small shop but it makes it really exciting.
"To win would mean everything. But it's also about supporting local business, we're all in this together. It's nice to be nice, it's good karma."
Bellevue Grill and Fish Bar - Bradley Road, Wrexham
The team at Bellevue Grill and Fish Bar.
Fehim Ayaz has been running things at the shop for the last three years.
The 50-year-old knows it's hard work to stay on top and keep customers coming back.
He said: "People come back to our shop because we are doing our best to provide the best service.
"Our products are good quality and our staff work very hard to make the customers pleased with the food.
"We always use fresh fish and fry fresh chips for almost all orders, and we change our frying oils every day. Hygiene and good quality service are our priorities.
"Also, we provide gluten-free fish and chips for our customers."
Making it as a finalist was a special moment, Fehim added: "When we learned that we made it to the top 10, my staff and I felt very happy and proud. It proved that we are on the right way.
"Winning this would be the award for our hard work for the last three years. If we win we will keep doing our best to please our customers with the high quality service. I believe our success will go on in time.
"I want to thank our customers for nominating us. Their nomination shows they know where to find good quality and they have a good taste in food.
"Thank you very much for nominating us and making us heard."
Gwersyllt Fish Bar - Dodds Lane, Gwersyllt
Andrew Mertakkas, Jason Mertakkas and Leonardo Mertakkas from Gwersyllt Fish Bar, Wrexham.
Brothers Jason and Andrew Mertakkas currently run the Wrexham chip shop but the business has been in the family since 1984.
On reaching the final, Jason, 47, said: "It was a bit of a surprise. But we know we're one of the best, and are very happy and privileged to be nominated.
"And it's nice to be recognised for our hard work.
"It's a great business to be involved in, it's a lot of hard work but it's very enjoyable, we love it."
On why their customers remain so loyal, Jason added: "All our staff are very friendly, we're a likeable place to go.
"The food is top class, we put a lot of effort into getting the best products out there.
"To win would mean a lot, and would help improve business to have been named the best in the region but even if we don't win, to have got this far is an achievement."
Clearly success runs in the family, as Jason and Andrew's uncle George Koumas is also a finalist with Borras Park Fish Bar.
Kingsley Fish Bar - Churchill Drive, Wrexham
Dee Singh, owner of Kingsley Fish Bar in Wrexham.
Owner Dee Singh has been running the business since 2011, with support from his wife, Jaz Kaur.
Forty three-year-old Dee, who is helped with a team of five, was "ecstatic" to have made the top 10.
He said: "To win would mean that all the hard work of everyone at the chip shop has paid off.
"Our main aim is to provide excellent customer service, along with delicious food to keep them coming back, so being in the top 10 proves we're right on track with the customers.
"Whether we win or not we would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers for their loyalty and our promise to them is that we will do our best to continue to provide them with top service and top food.
"And to our staff, teamwork makes the dream work, and we are a great team!"
Jaz added: "My husband puts everything into the business. Customers come back I think because of the loyalty Dee and the staff show them too.
"To win would mean everything. It would mean a lot to us both but especially my husband for the amount of hard work he has put in."
Jones's Fish and Chip Shop - St George's Crescent, Wrexham
Emma Gaffey, Marlene Roberts (owner) and Linda Adamson.
A long-standing business in the city, Jones's has been part of the same family since 1931.
The shop has remained open throughout, including through the Second World War, only closing during the covid lockdown.
To continue to be recognised by their community with a place in the top 10, was a welcome surprise.
Emma Gaffey, the owner's granddaughter and fourth generation at the shop, said: "We were very please, it's fierce competition.
"A lot of Wrexham's chip shop's have very loyal customers, so to be nominated in the first place is an honour.
"We have a lot of regular customers, which is very much appreciated."
The chip shop has also felt a touch of the Wrexham AFC 'Hollywood' magic, as visiting Americans head there for a pre-match fish and chips.
Emma, part of a team of 10 at the shop, said: "We see a lot of those that have managed to get tickets for the game.
"It's been very interesting, getting to tell them more about Wrexham."
On possibly winning the Best Chippy title, the 33-year-old added: "It would mean the world, especially to my nana, she still comes in every day.
"The business, it's in the family's blood."
Borras Park Fish Bar - Borras Park Road, Wrexham
Borras Park Fish Bar, Wrexham.
Like several finalists, it's a family affair at this Wrexham chip shop, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary next month.
In 1975 George and Miroulla Koumas, from Cyprus, bought the shop, now grandson George Valyandis is the third generation at the helm.
George, who has been there for the last five years, says his grandparents still pop in. Until covid, his granddad still came in to cut the fish.
The 35-year-old was thrilled to make it into the top 10. He said: "It's always nice to be recognised, that people have taken the time out to acknowledge us for the hard work we do.
"We always appreciate our customers, it's a pleasure to serve them, we have a good rapport. They're always so nice when they come in, giving us compliments. It means a lot.
"And we really look after the shop because it's been in the family for so long.
"To win would be massive. I think my grandparents would be the happiest."
Stubby's Fish Bar - Council Street, Llay
Stubby's Fish Bar owner Steven Pritchard and son Jack.
Being named a top 10 finalist was a surprise to no one more than owner Steven Pritchard.
The 49-year-old said: "I was a bit in the dark about it but it's absolutely fantastic from our customers, a great honour."
Steven, who first started working in a chippy from about 13-years-old, has had the shop for the last 11 years.
Named after a nickname given to him from an uncle when he was about six, Stubby's has a team of four, including Steven's son Jack.
He added: "I try my best. I maintain standards of keeping the food nice and fresh, while keeping an eye on costs. Everyone is feeling the pinch.
"It helps to have good staff and a good atmosphere too. It's about the customers that come in too, they're great with me.
"It would mean the world to win, a fantastic achievement. We're up against a lot of good takeaways that have been around a long time.
"To win against them would be marvellous but if we didn't, we'd congratulate whoever wins."
The full top 10 hoping to get your vote:
• Bellevue Grill and Fish Bar, Wrexham
• Borras Park Fish Bar, Wrexham
• Chipodee, Wrexham
• Crystals Fast Food, Mold
• Gwersyllt Fish Bar, Wrexham
• Jones' Fish and Chip Shop, Wrexham
• Josie's Chip Shop, Rhosymedre
• Kingsley Fish Bar, Wrexham
• Stubby's Fish Bar, Llay
• The Big Fish, Mold