Seniors returns to take best UK chip shop award

Seniors in Thornton, Lancashire, has been awarded the prestigious title of the UK’s Independent Takeaway Fish & Chip Shop of the Year at the National Fish and Chip Awards 2012.

The chippy, which took third place in the same category last year, is run by brothers Alastair and Dominic Horabin. The pair was presented with their award by leading restaurateur Richard Corrigan at London’s Riverbank Park Plaza Hotel today (Tuesday 17th January).

Alastair described the win as being beyond his wildest dreams, adding: “We were delighted to come third last year and spent the past 12 months looking at the ways we can improve our business and add further value to the experience of staff and customers in the shop with this being our ultimate goal.

"We've had the same management with us since we built the shop from a car park in 2006 and our success is thanks to their hard work, passion and dedication. I'm overjoyed for them all and I'm proud to be their boss.”

The awards, organised by Seafish, saw ten shops battle it out in the final with Hanbury’s in Babbacombe, Devon, and Quayside in Whitby, North Yorkshire, coming second and third respectively.

Nikki Hawkins, foodservice and events manager at Seafish, said: “This competition has undoubtedly been our fiercest yet and we congratulate Seniors for their stellar effort in achieving the number one spot.

“The awards have recognised the best of the UK’s fish and chip shops for the past 24 years with 2012’s high standard of entries testament to the industry’s commitment to continued improvement and sustainability.”

Nine other prestigious awards were also presented:

- Independent Fish and Chip Restaurant of the Year – McDermott’s Fish & Chips, Croydon, Surrey

- Best Multiple Fish and Chip Operator – Fish’n’Chick’n, Herfordshire

- Best Newcomer – Chamberlains Quality Fish & Chips, Oldbury, Birmingham

- Young Fish Frier of the Year – Zohaib Hussain, Zero Plus Fish Bar, Cardiff, Wales

- The Good Catch Award for Sustainability – Harbour Lights, Falmouth, Cornwall

- Staff Training and Development – Royal Fisheries, Whitby, North Yorkshire

- Contribution to the Local Community – The Boundary, Market Deeping, Lincolnshire

- Best Foodservice Outlet Serving Fish and Chips – Old English Inns (Greene King), Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk)

- King Frost Fishcake Challenge – Daniel Lynch, Chamberlains Quality Fish & Chips, Oldbury, Birmingham

You can read more about the winners in a ten page special in the February issue due out next month.