The fish and chip industry's "crown jewel event", the National Fish & Chip Awards is back and a Heathcote chippy is in the running.

Fourteen categories will honour the businesses that serve the crowd-pleasing favourite at the highest level, and it is time for the first course - celebrating the UK takeaways home to the finest portions.

The 2026 search for the best in the business in the Takeaway of the Year category - which is sponsored by Friars Pride, Henry Colbeck, McWhinney's Sausages, Seafood from Iceland, Smalesand V.A. Whitley - has seen chippies from coastal hotspots, rural locations and major cities vying to scoop the prize from current titleholder Yarm Road Fish & Chips in Darlington, County Durham.

In Warwickshire, Harbury Catch is the only chip shop to have got through to the final rounds.

Sector specialists have shortlisted 40 businesses to take through to the next round of extensive assessments which will focus on a range of criteria including product quality, hygiene, environmental and operational sustainability, customer service, and industry knowledge.

 The National Fish & Chip Awards is regarded as the most prestigious competition of its kind in the UK.

Those in the running will face a comprehensive appraisal of their businesses to ensure industry standards remain at their highest behind the scenes right through to customer experience.

It's free to enter, with hopefuls receiving tailored critiques which draw attention to brilliance as well as areas for improvement.

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