The most coveted award in the world of fish and chip shops - Fish and Chip Shop of the Year - has been given to a wee Scottish chippy on Fife’s shores, where the fish is ethically sourced and lovingly cooked.
The Anstruther Fish Bar and Restaurant in Fife made a lasting impression on the judges of the competition with specialties like North Sea haddock, Pittenweem prawns and Shetland organic cod - the first sustainable answer to wild cod fisheries in the world.
The owners, Alison and Robert Smith have been in the business for over 25 prosperous years and their relationship with fishermen in Aberdeen and Peterhead goes way back. The shops sells fish fresh off the boat in a beautiful setting.
And it seems this little place is not unknown - especially in the world of celebrity as A-listers like Robert de Niro, Tom Hanks and Prince William have patiently waited in queues in the rain to get their hands on the much sought after fish supper. In fact the Anstruther chippy is no stranger to awards - previously winning the title of Scotland’s No.1 chippy on no less than four times in the past.
Alison Smith commented, “Claiming the national title has always been our ambition, it’s the ultimate goal in our industry.”
In the finals, ten fish and chip shops were judged on criteria like customer service, product quality as well as their dedication to contributing to a sustainable future for the industry by ethically sourcing their fish.
Seafish projects manager Andy Gray said, “It’s unlike any other fish and chip shop. Not only does it have a picturesque harbourside setting but its service is second to none. Dedicated staff are trained to greet tourists in their mother tongue and many golfers make a beeline to the shop after playing the region’s famous golf courses.”
And the infamous cold and wet weather could not stop locals and tourists alike forming queues around the block.
Andy Gray added, “The fish and chips are cooked and sourced with care and attention. There’s a good range of fish available from sustainably caught cod to monkfish and the owners educate consumers with in-store information points.”
Colmans of South Shields won the title of second-best shop in the UK, with North West regional winners, Thornton Fisheries coming third.
In the last year sales from the UK’s 9,500 fish and chip shops have increased by 1.7 per cent, according to figures from the Seafish project.
In the eight months leading up to November 2008, there were over 548 million visits to Britain’s fish and chip shops - that’s 3 per cent more at 523 million in 2007.
