Latest news with #WillBurrell
The Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
I tried the UK's best fish and chips with secret batter ingredient and the right way to add salt and vinegar
MUNCHING on a mouthful of cod, the fish is light and melts in my mouth, while the batter is crispy and surprisingly grease-free. I'm at Yarm Road Fish and Chips in Darlington, which was crowned the UK's best fish and chip shop this year by the National Federation of Fish Fryers (NFFF), to see what the secret behind the takeaway's success is. 6 6 6 I ask owner Will Burrell what the special ingredient is that makes his fish so tasty as I take another bite. I'm shocked to discover it's beef dripping, which is what the fillets are fried in. It's National Fish and Chips day today (June 6), and thousands of us are expected to tuck into the British staple to celebrate. The classic combo remains one of the nation's favourite meals. Brits spend £2 billion on takeaway fish and chips every year, according to the NFFF. It's only 11:20 in the morning, and the first customers of the day are starting to walk through Yarm Road Fish and Chip's doors. The takeaway has been here for eight years, and is run by Will, 30, and his parents Julie, 56, and Graeme, 62. Between them, they have 27 years of experience in the business. Every week, the shop serves 1,200 customers and Friday is their busiest day, when they usually serve 600 hungry locals. Although their menu includes beef burgers, chicken burgers and even halloumi fries, it's the premium Icelandic cod and chips that customers crave, said Will. 'It's our most popular order, it flies out through the door.' Will said. 'Fish and chips is a comfort food and ingrained in British culture - it's here to stay.' Secret to success 6 6 6 Customers are piling into the shop for their lunch, including regular customer John Wood, 65, from Middelton St George. He's ordering his favourite meal, cod and chips, and visits the takeaway once a fortnight. 'I usually get a small portion, but sometimes I get a large if I'm feeling hungry - I don't let the missus know though. 'I'm a truck driver so I go to fish and chips around the country, and this is the best one. 'The chips are excellent, and the batter on the fish isn't soggy and doesn't taste of old oil, which is what you get sometimes at other places. 'The prices are decent, and the portions are a really good size.' A regular portion of fish and chips costs £9.90 at Yarm Road Fish and Chips, 48p less than the national average of £10.38, according to the Office for National Statistics. The shop is able to keep prices affordable for customers because portion sizes are closely monitored and fish is cooked to order, which helps to minimise food waste. 'We're not shoving in chips and we weigh portions of fish so we can make sure our margins are right,' Will says. However, it has had to hike prices of all of its menu items by around 10% since 2020, when the cost of ingredients, energy bills, and staff wages all began to rocket. Despite the cost pressures, Yarm Road Fish and Chips is thriving, but other shops have been less lucky. Some 1,500 shops have had to close their doors over the past 15 years according to NFFF. Regular customer Scott Henderson, 56, who is a gas engineer from Blaydon, has come in to pick up his regular order of four cod bites, a side of curry sauce, and a fizzy drink for £6.50 at least once a week. 'It's good value and the staff are great, I know all their names and which football teams they support because I've been coming here for six years,' he said. 'The chips are chunky and cooked perfectly because they're crispy on the outside and fluffy on the middle, and the fish is always fresh. "The curry sauce you get from other places can be a bit like green water, but it has a bit of texture and spice here.' Donna Hodgson, 63, works at a nearby sheltered housing scheme and is here to pick up 12 portions of fish and chips for hungry residents. 'The fish is hot, light and fresh, and the batter is gorgeous,' she said. 'The staff are also lovely." Customers go wild for the free batter scraps that are dished out with every portion. 'Our customers either get a bag of them or we sprinkle it over the fish and chips. It's a real regional tradition, if you don't give out scraps you wouldn't do very well." Will says the secret behind the shop's great tasting cod is that the fish is frozen on the boat to keep it fresh and preserve flavour. Once the fish arrives at the shop, it's cooked to order and fried in beef dripping. To get the best flavour out of your meal, Will advises adding vinegar before the salt. I followed his advice, and it made a real difference to my meal. The vinegar is less overpowering this way, and doesn't mask the salty flavour you want from a fish and chips tea. My only regret is that I haven't been using his trick sooner - and I'll be sure to do it every time now.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Double award delight as County Durham and Darlington chippies crowned best in UK
Two County Durham and Darlington fish and chip shops have taken top honours at the National Fish & Chip Awards 2025, with Yarm Road Fish and Chips in Darlington winning Takeaway of the Year, and Bell's Fish and Chips (Framwellgate Moor) in Durham being crowned Restaurant of the Year. 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.'
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Darlington chippy crowned best in the UK at National Fish & Chip Awards 2025
Yarm Road Fish and Chips in Darlington has been named Takeaway of the Year at the prestigious National Fish & Chip Awards 2025. The accolade was announced at a grand ceremony in London on Wednesday (February 26), recognising the very best in the fish and chip industry. Organised by the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), the awards, now in their 37th year, celebrate excellence across all aspects of fish and chip businesses, from quality and customer service to sustainability and innovation. Yarm Road Fish and Chips secured the top prize after undergoing rigorous judging, which included interviews, mystery taste tests, and skill assessments. A delighted Will Burrell, director-manager of Yarm Road Fish and Chips, expressed his amazement at the win. He said: 'Well, we can't quite believe it! We really didn't think this year would be our year. Yarm Road Fish and Chips - Takeaway of the Year (Image: NATIONAL FISH AND CHIP AWARDS 2025) "Not because of how the process and judging has gone, but purely because of just how unbelievable the rest of the top 10 finalists are. "To be mentioned alongside these guys is one thing, but to top the list is something we could only dream of! Now somehow, it's reality.' 'Our biggest congratulations and thanks go out to our amazing team. They have worked tirelessly throughout the years and have been so invested in this competition. "It goes without saying, but without them we would be nowhere near this position we find ourselves in today. To take this trophy home to them makes all the hard work worthwhile.' Since opening eight years ago, Yarm Road Fish and Chips has grown into a staple of the Darlington community. 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 Reflecting on the journey, Mr Burrell added: 'We have adapted to new situations, overcame hurdles and tried to perfect our craft of the nation's favourite takeaway. It seems we have got it somewhere near right!' 'Huge thanks to all our wonderful customers for supporting our little chippy. And thanks again to the best team in the world. "To the wider public, keep supporting your local chippy. They are the cornerstone of many communities and there may be some tough times ahead, as we all know. Go and get your chippy teas. Thank you!' Andrew Crook, president of the NFFF, praised this year's winners, adding: 'The bar for the National Fish & Chip Awards is set higher each year across the criteria the competitors are evaluated against, and our new titleholders have put everything into elevating their menus, sharpening their skills and developing their expertise.' The National Fish & Chip Awards 2025 also saw The Fish Works in Largs, Scotland take second place, while Kellaway's Fish and Chips in Truro, Cornwall, secured third behind Yarm Road Fish and Chips in the Takeaway of the Year category.
