The UK's top fish and chip shops announced

The UK's top 60 fish and chip shops have been announced as part of the annual National Fish & Chip Awards, organised by Seafish.

Following initial judging, 60 businesses have been shortlisted for the Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Award, one of 14 categories in the 2019 National Fish & Chip Awards.

Widely recognised as the ‘Oscars' of the fish and chip industry, the top 60 shops represent the best in the business and will now compete in the next round of judging to become the number one fish and chip shop in the UK.

Over the coming weeks, the shops will undergo a further phase of mystery diner judging inspections in order to whittle the top 60 down to a top 20 listing, then a top 10 shortlist, before the final stage of judging in London in January 2019.

Marcus Coleman, chief executive officer at Seafish, said: "This award category showcases the leading fish and chip takeaways across the land, the shops that we all love to buy our fish supper from. The calibre of this year's top 60 is extremely high and provides a true representation of the quality found within the fish and chip sector.

"Entering the National Fish & Chip Awards provides so many business benefits that I'd wholly encourage any business owner who is on the fence about entering to look at the categories in this year's awards that are still open for entry and complete an entry form. I promise that once you enter, you'll not look back!"

Reigning champions David and Nick Miller of Millers Fish & Chips in Haxby, North Yorkshire, added: "To be crowned the Fish and Chip Shop of the Year at the National Fish & Chip Awards in 2018 was an amazing experience and kicked off an exceptional year for our business, which has been in the family for 77 years. Winning the award has been the pinnacle of our career and we'd encourage anyone who is interested in entering the awards to give it a go, you never know what it could mean for your business."

The winner of the Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Award will be announced at The National Fish & Chip Awards' 31st anniversary ceremony in London on 24 January 2019.

Click here to see the full top 60