With countless people across the UK set to enjoy fish and chips on Good Friday, it’s only fitting that we highlight the UK’s best chippies and best-loved takeaways.
Traditionally, some people eat fish to honour the Christian custom of abstaining from meat but even those who aren’t religious often indulge in a generous portion of fish and chips on this day, making it one of the busiest days of the year for fish and chip shops across the UK. The rankings in the Takeaway of the Year category in the National Fish and Chips Awards 2025 were determined through a combination of interviews, mystery taste tests, and skill-based assessments. Check the interactive map below to see the fish and chip shop in the top 40 ranking closest to you:
Taking the crown for Takeaway of the Year for 2025 is Yarm Road Fish and Chips in Darlington, a family-run shop that climbed from second place last year to first, overtaking the previous winner, the Ship Deck in Caerphilly, Wales.
In second place is The Fish Works in Largs, Scotland, where fish is delivered fresh daily from Peterhead Market, and whole langoustines are caught each morning by local fisherman, Ian Wightman. Kellaway’s Fish and Chips in Cornwall came in third having served up top-tier fish and chips for over 21 years.
Will Burrell, director-manager of Yarm Road Fish and Chips said when receiving the award at the ceremony in February: “Well, we can’t quite believe it! We really didn’t think this year would be our year.
“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.”
The winner of the award has also received some rave reviews on TripAdvisor.
One person wrote: “This must be the best chippy in Darlington maybe the UK ,the world who knows. It’s staff are friendly and the place is the cleanest and best run I’ve seen. The online ordering is straight forward even I can use it. Finally the food is always nice , hot and on time (if ordering on line ) not much of a wait if just poping in no more than anywhere else.”
Another said: “Excellent Fish and Chips the best in Darlington. I have been coming here for years. Every time we come back to Darlington this is one of my favourite places to come.”