A good catch for Stonehaven's The Bay

The Bay Fish and Chips of Stonehaven, Scotland, has been recognised alongside esteemed restaurants such as River Cottage, Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons and OXO Tower Restaurant Brasserie, who all scooped awards at the first ever Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) Awards.

The Bay Fish and Chips received the SRA Special Judges Award for fully embracing the concept of sustainable fish, scoring 100% in the sustainable seafood section of the SRA Star Rating survey.

All restaurants that achieved a star rating in 2011 were considered for the awards, which included more than 400 outlets nationwide ranging from fine-dining establishments to local restaurants.

Owner of The Bay, Calum Richardson, said: “We are very pleased to win the SRA award as it's the direction we want The Bay, fish and chips and the industry to go in. And to get fish and chips up there on a level with Le Manoir, River Cottage and other prestigious restaurant brands is fantastic for the industry and shows how fish and chips should be seen.”

The Bay, which became the first fish and chip shop to gain Marine Stewardship Council Chain of Custody for North Sea haddock, worked hard to get across the importance of sustainable fish to their customers by printing 6,000 leaflets explaining the need for sourcing fish sustainably.

Eight awards were given out in total at the ceremony at London’s Cinnamon Club earlier this week. Winners included River Cottage which scooped the SRA Award for Sourcing, Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons, which won the Environment Award, and the OXO Tower Restaurant Brasserie and Bar, one of two restaurants to receive the SRA Society Award, which recognises restaurants’ efforts to engage positively with their staff, customers and local community.