Latest news with #NationalFishandChipAwards
Daily Mirror
02-08-2025
- Daily Mirror
Beautiful UK beach walk that ends at award winning fish and chip shop
This award-winning beach in Scotland is backed by impressive sand dunes and has become a beloved destination for kitesurfing - it also happens to be a stone's throw away from a celebrated chip shop Scotland might not be the first destination on your radar when temperatures rise, but it happens to be the home of the best beach you've never heard of. This dune-backed bay also happens to be a short jaunt from an award-winning fish and chip shop. St Andrews West Sands can be found on the eastern coastline of Fife. The beach is surrounded by breath-taking sand dunes and a world-renowned golf course. Even first-time visitors may find the stunning view surprisingly familiar. West Sands is famous for featuring in the opening sequence of the 1981 film Chariots of Fire, in which a group of runners jog across the sand to a now-iconic soundtrack. READ MORE: EU seaside town with award-winning beach could be anywhere in the Caribbean Still today, West Sands is popular for walking and running - stretching for nearly two miles. The beach is also a great swimming spot - and particularly safe thanks to RNLI lifeguard patrol. But keep in mind that lifeguards are only on duty during the busier summer season. According to the RNLI website, the official lifeguard patrol dates for West Sands in 2025 are: June 21 - August 24 between 10am and 6pm local time. The organisation also warns beach-goers that no flags on the beach means that there are no lifeguards on duty. St Andrews West Sands is also particularly popular with kite surfers. As noted on online forums, there is a large and well-established 'Kite Zone' at the far north-end of the beach - outside of which kitesurfing is not permitted. In fact, there are quite a few great kitesurfing destinations in Fife. Pettycur Bay, Shell Bay, and Monifieth are also great destinations to check out during your travels. Once you've hit the water at West Sands though, you're only a 15-minute walk to the town centre where there is plenty of parking and you can explore the area's famous golf courses or grab a bite to eat. The town centre is famous for its golf heritage, and again, the beach is backed by some of the world's top courses. West Sands also puts you in close proximity to the award-winning Cromars fish and chip shop. Here, customers can enjoy a range of classics, including battered haddock, king prawns, fish cakes and smoked sausage. The establishment has been recognised by numerous awards bodies including the Scottish Fish and Chip Awards and the National Fish and Chip Awards. West Sands also overlooks the Eden Estuary Nature Reserve and is home to a range of seabirds and seals. A dune stabilisation programme is in place and visitors are asked to use the designated access points to access the beach. St Andrews West Sands are winners of a Keep Scotland Beautiful 2025 Scotland's Beach Award and are celebrating 33 years of awards. The flat sand beach is also particularly accessible, with beach wheelchairs available for hire from the Hamish Foundation.
Daily Record
19-07-2025
- Daily Record
The Scottish beach walk that ends at award winning fish and chips
The scenic bay famously featured in an iconic film. Temperatures are soaring all over Scotland, which means a trip to the beach is in order. For the Daily Record's latest Walk of the Week, we have chosen a breathtaking bay that is just a short walk from an award-winning fish and chip shop. West Sands is situated in the idyllic town of St Andrews in Fife. The beach is backed by sand dunes and the town's world-renowned golf courses. Stretching for nearly two miles, West Sands offers a seemingly limitless stretch of sand to explore. Whether you are travelling there with friends, family, or alone, it is hard to think of a better place to make the most of the sun this weekend. Movie buffs may recognise the beach from the iconic opening sequence of the 1981 film Chariots of Fire, in which a group of runners journey across the sand. West Sands is very popular amongst runners, but with temperatures set to be over 20 degrees in St Andrews this weekend make sure you don't overheat while trying to recreate the movie. For those travelling to West Sands by car, the beach offers plenty of parking. There are also toilets, while the amenities in St Andrews are easily accessible. After you are done soaking in the sun, your final stop before heading home should be Cromars. The fish and chip shop is only a short walk from West Sands, and is the perfect capper to a day out at the beach. The eatery has been recognised by numerous awards bodies over the years, including the Scottish Fish and Chip Awards and the National Fish and Chip Awards. It has also earned positive reviews from customers, with recent visitors describing it as "excellent" and "absolutely outstanding". See below for some photographs showing why West Sands is worth a visit this week. For further travel inspiration, a selection of the Daily Record's previous Walks of the Week can be found here: The 'virtually uninhabited' Scottish beach perfect for family summer day out The Scottish 'subtropical' garden that was crowned Family Venue of the Year The stunning Scottish beach with cosy pub by the sand perfect for family day out The perfect Scottish Father's Day hike that ends at inn with delicious Sunday roast The secret Scottish beach that was named 'best for dreamy holiday' The serene secret garden tucked away in the heart of Edinburgh's bustling city centre
Daily Record
03-06-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Award winning Scottish chip shop shares secret that draws customers from miles away
Fish and chips are in news this week as National Fish and Chip Day is celebrated on Friday, June 6. Fish and chips remain a beloved staple of British cuisine, perfect for a day by the seaside, a cosy film night, or a pick-me-up after a night out. This week, the humble chippie gets its moment in the spotlight as National Fish and Chip Day is celebrated on Friday, June 6. With over 10,000 fish and chip shops across the UK, Scotland boasts its fair share of popular outlets, including The Real Food Café in Tyndrum, about 60 miles north of Glasgow. A regular on 'best of' lists and a seven-time winner at the National Fish and Chip Awards, the café is famed for its gluten-free fish and chips, attracting customers who sometimes travel 500 miles round trip for a taste, Scottish Daily Express reports. Owner Sarah Heward shares the secret to creating an outstanding fish and chip meal, emphasising the importance of attention to detail. "Fish and chips might sound simple, but making a truly outstanding chippy is anything but," she explains. "It's all about layers of detail. The Real Food Café only uses MSC-certified, sustainably sourced fish. Once prepped and portioned, it's carefully layered in a fish fridge, no more than two or three fillets deep, ready for frying." Sarah also highlights the science behind the perfect batter: "The batter must be made using chilled water. "The cold temperature causes the wheat proteins to expand, and when the batter hits the hot oil, it explodes, creating that crisp, airy texture you want – nobody likes a soggy fish and chips! We also use a specialised batter-whisking machine to keep the consistency just right." When it comes to the chips, The Real Food Café goes through a quarter of a tonne daily, with each potato carefully inspected. Sarah adds, "When the tatties arrive, we test them for sugar content because too much sugar means chips that fry too dark. "We rumble 25 kilograms of potatoes at a time, eye them by hand and chip them in a machine that can process a full sack in about 20 seconds. "Cooking times are constantly adjusted throughout the year for variations in potato and wheat crops. Once it's all cooked, we finish with the final secret ingredients: salt, vinegar, and a generous serving of love." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. This year marks the 10th anniversary of National Fish and Chip Day, celebrated annually on the first Friday in June to honour this iconic British dish. In other news, Scotland's cheapest city for a chippy tea has been revealed, much to the delight of hungry Dundonians. According to a new nationwide ranking by WDW Bingo, Dundee ranks as the third most affordable city in the UK for a portion of fish and chips, with an average price of just £9.47. Glasgow comes in at tenth place, where the average cost is £10.37. Aberdeen and Edinburgh follow closely behind, with prices at £10.67 and £10.93 respectively, proving that while fish and chips remain a classic, prices can vary significantly across the country.
Time Out
23-04-2025
- Time Out
The 7 best fish and chips shops in and around London, mapped
Maps make everything easier. Imagine trying to check out a restaurant you'd never been to before, in a part of town you'd never been to before, without a map. Impossible! That's why we're grateful for the good people at the National Fish and Chip Awards. They might smell faintly of batter and vinegar, but they've got together an extremely helpful map, which shows you all the best chippys in and around London. There are only two spots within the M25 on the map, Stones Fish and Chips in Byfleet and Brockley's Rock in Brockley (the latter was named London's best chippy last year). But if you're happy to venture further afield for the sake of heroic haddock, then it'll also show you how to get to Seafare Guildford, Harrisons Fish & Chip Co. in Oxford, Newington Fish Bar in Ramsgate, The Hook of Halstead in Clacton on Sea and Mike's Traditional Fish & Chips in Eastleigh. Sure, some of them might take a while to get to, but what's more British than going on a proper day trip in search of the perfect portion of fish and chips?
