Fish and Chip Restaurant Award finalists announced

Six top chippies batter it out to win top prize at National Fish and Chip Awards 2012.

The six finalists of the Independent Fish and Chip Restaurant of the Year Award have been announced.

The prize is part of the National Fish and Chip Awards 2012 organised by Seafish, the UK authority on seafood.

Hanbury’s of Babbacombe, McDermott’s of Croydon, Quayside (pictured above) and Trenchers of Whitby, RockFish of Dartmouth and Seniors of Thornton go through to the grand final.

Colmans of South Shields claimed the 2011 crown.

Fish and chip shop finalists
The finalists for Takeaway Fish and Chip Shop of the Year, who won their regional titles, were announced in October. They include three of the shortlist for the Restaurant category.

The finalists are:

Scotland – The Bay, Stonehaven
Wales – The Crispy Cod, Tonyrefail
Northern Ireland – Pit-Stop, Kilkeel
North East England – Quayside, Whitby
North West – Seniors, Thornton
Midlands – The Big Fish, Stratford-upon-Avon
Eastern – Linfords, Market Deeping
London and South East – Seafare, Guildford
Central and South – Wigmore Fish & Chips, Luton
South West – Hanbury’s, Babbacombe

Bridlington’s Fish and Chips at 149 won the 2011 title.

The winners of all the categories will be crowned at the Grand Final in London in January.

Seafish says over 250 million portions of fish and chips are dished up each year from over 10,500 shops.

In sadder news, it was announced this week that the original Harry Ramsden’s restaurant in Guiseley is to close. It opened back in December 1928.

Where’s your favourite fish and chip shop and why? Let us know via the Comments box below.