Father and son team take top honour at National Fish & Chip Awards

Yarm Road Fish & Chips, lead by the father-and-son duo Graeme and Will Burrell, has been crowned Fish & Chip Takeaway of the Year at yesterday’s National Fish & Chip Awards.

The pair opened the shop in Darlington, County Durham, eight years ago and secured second place in last year’s competition. Since then, they have expanded their business, acquiring the convenience store next door and are preparing to open a 45-seater fish and chip restaurant in the coming months.

Son Will, who has been involved in the fish and chip trade since childhood, has a busy year ahead – not only launching the new restaurant but also preparing for a wedding and the arrival of a baby.

Reflecting on the win, Will said: “It’s absolutely blown my socks off. We obviously wanted to win but didn’t expect it. Coming second last year, we never thought we’d get another shot at the title. We’ll be straight back to work, but we’ll take the team out to celebrate as we couldn’t have done this without them.

“I’ve got a baby on the way, a wedding, the restaurant, but this win will be taking priority…for the next couple of months at least and then we’ll have to reassess!”

The award for Fish & Chip Restaurant of the Year went to another popular County Durham business – Bells Fish & Chips Framwellgate Moor, Durham. One of five restaurants in the Bells chain, it has been serving customers for six years.

Owner Graham Kennedy expressed his pride: “This is an emotional moment for me and I’m so proud of the team. After 38 years of serving fish and chips, for it to culminate in this award, means the world to me. We had a live feed of the awards into the restaurant so all the staff knew immediately and were all delighted.”

Asked why he thought his restaurant won the award, he comments: “We focus on doing things right the first time. And we remain traditional. We move with the times, for example we offer a gluten free section, but ultimately we do what we do best – fish and chips.”

Will and Graeme Burrell, Yarm Road Fish & Chips, Fish & Chip Takeaway of the Year

Bells — Will and Graeme Burrell, Yarm Road Fish & Chips, Fish & Chip Takeaway of the Year

The Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year Award went to second-time entrant Glen Morrison of Garioch Fish Bar in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire.

Glen realised his passion for fish and chips in 2019 when he stepped in on a busy Friday night after his dad – who owns the shop – was taken ill. He comments: “This is unbelievable. I was a finalist last year and was gutted not to win, so this feels even more special. To be the best young fish frier in the UK, it’s what every young frier wants to be.

“This competition has really motivated me. I’ve spent the past year learning, getting feedback, meeting people and visiting their shops to see how they do things. I can’t wait to go back and have the trophy next to me while I’m frying.”

The National Fish & Chip Awards took place at The Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel in London and was organised by The NFFF, sponsored by Seafood from Norway, and hosted by TV presenter Matt Baker. Matt summed up the day when he said: “Today we are celebrating the heart and soul of the UK’s culinary tradition, the glorious, the iconic, the absolutely irresistible fish and chips.

“We are here to honour heroes behind those golden crispy masterpieces because you’re the legendary chip shop owners who week in, week out, turn hearty potatoes and the finest fish into something that can only be described as pure magic.”