The annual event has been dedicated to finding the best fish and chip dinner in the country since 1988 and now has found their latest winner from York
Two brothers have battered the competition to win first plaice as Britain’s best chippy. Aman, 36, and Gavin Dhesi, 33, who run The Scrap Box in Yorkscooped The National Fish & Chip Awards 2026 Takeaway of the Year with their fish supper being described as “sensational.”
The takeaway was named as the reel deal in a fancy do held last night (Wednesday February 25) at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London. The annual event has been dedicated to finding the best fish and chip dinner in the country since 1988.
On receiving the top prize, Aman said: “There are so many outstanding fish and chip shops across the UK, and countless awards, but this is the one every chippy dreams of, the ‘Oscars’ of our industry.
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“With the most rigorous judging and the highest calibre of past winners, it’s a true honour to be recognised at this level. To represent the very best of fish and chips for the year ahead is both humbling and hugely meaningful to our team, and a testament to the craft, care, and consistency we put into every portion of fish and chips.”
Yorkshire boasted the most nominations for the best takeaway award with four of the best chippies, followed closely by Scotland with two. London, Oxford, Essex and Durham each had nominations too.
Every year, hundreds of entries are submitted by hopeful chip shop owners, and a panel of fish frying experts, who are at the top of their game, are tasked with selecting an initial top 40 after a tasting session. Judges have to mark a score in a number of boxes including, skill, taste, operational and environmental sustainability, product quality, training and development, as well as customer service. They then perform interviews and assessments to whittle it down to the top 10 before carrying out ‘mystery visits’ which take place over a number of months to decide the overall winner.
There were 13 categories who won awards including the Restaurant of the Year, Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year, and the all-new Menu Innovation award. Andrew Crook is the president of the National Federation of Fish Friers, and said 2026 was a particularly hard year to judge.
He said: “We have so much admiration and respect for all our finalists and winners and especially our new Takeaway of the Year titleholder, The Scrap Box. Congratulations to Aman, Gavin and the team, and thank you for your service, passion and love for the greatest dish in the world. Fish and chip businesses are the backbone of the takeaway space; the heritage is like no other and our winners represent tradition and the future to the highest degree.”
The event takes place every year and takes at least six months of preparation before the awards night.
Takeaway of the Year
1st: The Scrap Box – York, Yorkshire
2nd: The Fish Works – Largs, Scotland
3rd: Shaws Fish & Chips of Dodworth – Barnsley, Yorkshire
Restaurant of the Year
1st: Trenchers of Whitby – Whitby, Yorkshire
2nd: Noah’s – Bristol
3rd: Whitby’s Restaurant & Take Away, Rotherham, Yorkshire
Young Fish Frier of the Year
Winner: James Ellams of Fish & Chips @ Weston Grove – Chester, Cheshire
Runner-up: Abigail Barker of Millers Fish & Chips – Haxby, Yorkshire
Newcomer of the Year
Monster Fish & Chips Co. – Fort Augustus in Inverness-shire, Scotland
Employee of the Year
Donna Whitfield from Bells Fish & Chips – Durham, County Durham
Mobile Operator of the Year
Frosty’s – Newcastle, Tyne & Wear
Environment and Sustainable Business
The Real Food Caf – Tyndrum in Perthshire, Scotland
Supplier of the Year
Collins Seafoods
Outstanding Contribution
David Miller from Millers Fish & Chips in Haxby, Yorkshire
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