fishing

UK’s 50 best fish and chip shops named – full list

The top fish and chip takeaways and restaurants across the UK have been listed, with some surprising entries

As the year draws nearer to a close, it’s time to celebrate the very best of tasty food, as the Fry Awards announce their top spots for fish and chips in the UK.

Fry Magazine has yet again unveiled its ruling of the 50 best fish and chip takeaways, alongside their top 10 restaurants. These results come after months of judges secretly assessing fish and chip shops nationwide, assessing them on key things such as their food quality, cleanliness, staff, and value for money.

It was only those with the highest scores that rightfully earned themselves an award, and the pass mark for both categories had to be an impressive 96% and above. 2025 marks the 13th year of the awards taking place, and its list is evidence that good food is going nowhere in the UK.

The top 10 restaurants show a wide range of locations, from down south by the coast of Devon right up to Glasgow in Scotland, but it’s safe to say the top contenders are mostly based in beloved seaside towns. Sticking out like a sore thumb, however, is the capital’s only entry in the top restaurants list, and that’s Toff’s of Muswell Hill, in London.

10 Best Restaurants

Catch, Giffnock, Glasgow

Eric’s Fish & Chips, Hunstanton, Norfolk

Fish City, Belfast

Harbour Lights, Falmouth, Cornwall

Pier Point Bar & Restaurant, Torquay, Devon

Squires Fish Restaurant, Braunton, Devon

The Elite, Tritton Road, Lincoln, Lincolnshire

The Magpie Cafe, Whitby, North Yorkshire

The Scallop Shell, Bath, Somerset

Toff’s of Muswell Hill, Muswell Hill, London

Included in the sizeable list are plenty of places in Yorkshire, with seven total entries in the exclusive list, including the likes of Lighthouse Fisheries of Flamborough and Two Gates Fisheries. Home to the likes of Southend-on-Sea and Clacton-on-Sea, the county of Essex also came out with a total of four fish and chip takeaways alone, making waves in the world of seafood.

Reece Head, competition organiser, said: “Another year has passed and, once again, these shops have shown resilience, adapting to today’s challenges with remarkable dedication. At a time when inflationary pressures are being felt, these businesses continue to stay positive and prioritise their customers, maintain exceptional standards, and find innovative ways to keep fish and chips affordable.

“Starting the year as award winners is a fantastic way for fish and chip shops to kick off 2025, setting the tone for a successful year ahead. Whether served in a restaurant, a takeaway, or from a mobile unit, the Fry Awards prove that quality fish and chips can be enjoyed anywhere.”

50 Best Takeaways (in alphabetical order)

  • Ainsworth’s Fish & Chips, Caernarfon
  • Angel Lane Chippie, Penrith, Cumbria
  • Angell’s Fisheries, Newark, Nottinghamshire
  • Batterfly Fish & Chips, Surbiton, Surrey
  • Bredon Village Fish and Chip Shop, Bredon, Worcestershire
  • Callaway’s Fish & Chips, Dorchester, Dorset
  • Churchill’s Fish & Chips Langney, Eastbourne, East Sussex
  • Farnham’s at Fontygary, Rhoose, Vale Of Glamorgan
  • Fiddlers Elbow, Leintwardine, Herefordshire
  • Fintans Fish & Chip Co. Llanishen, Cardiff
  • Fishnchickn, Hutton, Brentwood, Essex
  • French’s Fish Shop, Wells next the Sea, Norfolk
  • Garioch Fish Bar, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire
  • Greg & Lou’s, Redruth, Cornwall
  • Henley’s of Wivenhoe, Colchester, Essex
  • Hiks, Brynhyfryd, Swansea
  • Hirds Family Fisheries, Halifax, West Yorkshire
  • Howe & Co 55, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
  • Joe’s Traditional Fish and Chips, Strabane , County Tyrone
  • Kellaway’s Fish and Chips, Truro, Cornwall
  • Kirbys of Horsforth, Horsforth , Leeds
  • Kirbys of Meanwood, Meanwood, Leeds
  • Lighthouse Fisheries Of Flamborough, Flamborough, East Yorkshire
  • Malt and Anchor, Cirencester, Gloucestershire
  • Moore’s Fish & Chips, Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway
  • Oysters Fish & Chips, Lightwater, Surrey
  • Oysters Fish & Chips, Marlow Bottom, Buckinghamshire
  • Pennington Plaice, Leigh, Greater Manchester
  • Pier Point, Torquay, Devon
  • Pisces, Fleetwood, Lancashire
  • Portside Fish & Chips, South Elmsall, Leeds
  • Portside Fish & Chips, Kirkstall Road, Leeds
  • Quintiliani’s Fast Food, Hamilton, Larkhall, South Lanarkshire
  • Redcloak Fish Bar , Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire
  • Sea Blue Fisheries, Clowne, Derbyshire
  • Sea Salt + Sole, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
  • Seafront Chippy, Hornsea, East Yorkshire
  • Shappy Wheels, Shap, Cumbria
  • Shaws Fish And Chips, Dodworth, Barnsley, South Yorkshire
  • Squires, Braunton, Devon
  • Sykes Fish and Chips, Manchester
  • The Anchor, Bexley, South East London
  • The Bearded Sailor, Pudsey, Leeds, West Yorkshire
  • The Cafe Royal, Annan, Dumfries and Galloway
  • The Chippie Van, Penrith, Cumbria
  • The Codfather, Wakefield, West Yorkshire
  • The Fish at Goose Green, Wigan, Greater Manchester
  • The Fish Bank, Sherburn in Elmet, North Yorkshire
  • The Friary, Carrickfergus, Co Antrim
  • The Hook of Clacton, Clacton on Sea, Essex
  • The Oyster Shell, Bath, Somerset
  • The Village Fish & Chips, Petts Wood, Orpington, Kent
  • Town Street Fryer, Marple Bridge, Stockport, Cheshire
  • Two Gates Fisheries, Shafton, Barnsley, South Yorkshire

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Doc Martin’s pretty seaside town ‘ruined’ by tourists and locals ‘hate it’

A once tranquil fishing village famed for featuring in the TV series Doc Martin is now said to be inundated with visitors

Port Isaac, the picturesque Cornish village known for its role in the TV series Doc Martin and as the birthplace of sea-shanty band Fisherman’s Friends, is said to struggling under the weight of its own popularity.

The once peaceful fishing village, with its charming whitewashed cottages overlooking a harbour, is now teeming with tourists during the summer months. However, it has been reported that the lower part of Port Isaac has seen a significant drop in its population, with only about 30 residents remaining during the spring and autumn shoulder seasons.

Despite the influx of visitors drawn by its association with Doc Martin, Port Isaac has long been a favourite location for TV and film makers. The village served as the backdrop for the 2000 comedy thriller Saving Grace, as well as the original BBC Poldark series from the 1970s.

Local fisherman, Tom Brown, told the Telegraph that while visitor numbers have increased, they are spending less than previous tourists. He revealed that older locals “hate it” and avoid the bottom of Port Isaac, claiming “it’s ruined”.

However, Mr Brown believes that while the village has “definitely changed”, it isn’t ruined.

The surge in second-home ownership has reportedly priced local families out of the market. According to Rightmove, house prices in the village averaged £425,140 over the last year, reports the Express.

The online property website also noted that most properties sold in Port Isaac over the past year were detached houses, fetching an average price of £490,000.

Terraced houses were sold for an average price of £406,250, while flats went for £333,200. The Halifax House Price Index reported a UK-wide average of £299,331 in August.

Travel and Tour World has reported that a “steep” rise in property prices is driving locals away from Port Isaac, with those who stay facing an “overwhelming” cost of living.

Local businesses have also felt the impact of the surge in visitors over the summer, struggling to meet the demand from the influx of tourists and dealing with challenges during quieter periods.

Cornwall Council’s councillor responsible for homes, Olly Munk, stated that housing in the county is in a state of crisis, with more than 24,000 people on the local authority’s waiting list.

In 2024, the council added 775 “affordable” homes to the county’s total, and there are 600 sites approved for housing. Under a Government scheme, the county is required to build over 4,000 houses annually.

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Pretty UK seaside town with huge beach ignored by tourists due to popular neighbour

The quaint fishing harbour is located in a very famous part of the UK, but is a lot less popular than its surrounding area.

If you’re looking for the perfect seaside spot to visit this autumn that isn’t flooded with tourists, then there’s one place that ticks every box. Residents of a UK coastal town that’s frequently overshadowed by its more famous neighbours have celebrated its strong community spirit and passion for independent shops and eateries.

Seaton is a charming fishing harbour situated along East Devon’s Jurassic Coast – a World Heritage Site that draws approximately five million visitors annually. Although boasting year-round attractions including the tramway, museum, and beach, visitors often choose nearby Lyme Regis over Seaton.

One standout feature of the coastal community is its dedication to independent businesses, with local shop owners describing it as “the best place” to establish a company.

Amy Bonser helped launch Seaton Chamber Independent Market last year, which has since expanded to feature products from more than 60 traders, reports the Express.

She explained Seaton was the ideal location to create the market owing to its breathtaking local surroundings and established network of flourishing independent enterprises.

Amy told the Express: “Seaton was the best place to start a market. We have an amazing coastline on the Jurassic Coast, amazing gardens, which we use one for our market, and some amazing shops.

“As we mainly have independent businesses, this makes it an amazing place for local small traders to show off their independent business without the threat of the big companies.”

This view was shared by Carly Dean-Tribble, who runs Pebbles Coffee House and the Hideaway – two beloved cafés in the town. While admitting that running two independent cafes is “super hard work” due to people having less disposable income, she feels “very well supported by the local community and tourists alike”.

Carly confessed she hadn’t heard of Seaton before deciding to open her businesses there, but quickly realised it was the ideal location.

She said: “Seaton has a particular charm to it. I made my mind up that Seaton would be our home before we even viewed the business. It’s full of independent traders, which is a unicorn for sure. No big names here.

“Having independent businesses on our high street is a huge plus point. You simply don’t get that level of service and dedication from bigger corporations. People put their heart and soul into everything they do.”

Angela Mendham, another independent cafe owner who has run Passiflora for four years, echoed Carly’s sentiments. Despite facing challenges as more chain coffee shops emerge, she said Seaton locals have continued to show their support.

She expressed: “I do have a lot of locals who are very loyal, and I’m very grateful for their support. My locals have been as supportive as they can, but I’ve noticed that they are not spending as much so it’s hard, but I am very grateful.”

Looking ahead, Angela believes Seaton could benefit from increased funding that would only help its independent shops to flourish further.

She added: “I think Seaton needs more money from councils. Compared to Sidmouth, we really are the poor relative. But as the community goes, we are right on top.”

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Venezuela condemns US destroyer for hostile occupation of fishing vessel | Border Disputes News

US military action against a Venezuelan boat sparks condemnation and troop deployments.

Venezuela has accused the United States of illegally boarding and occupying one of its fishing vessels in the country’s special economic zone, further escalating tensions between Caracas and Washington.

In a statement on Saturday, Venezuela’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the vessel, carrying nine “humble” and “harmless” fishermen, was intercepted by the US destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109) on Friday.

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“The warship deployed 18 armed agents who boarded and occupied the small, harmless boat for eight hours,” the statement said, calling the incident a “direct provocation through the illegal use of excessive military means”.

The move follows a US military strike last week in the Caribbean that killed 11 Venezuelans and sank a boat that the administration of US President Donald Trump claimed, without evidence, had been transporting narcotics.

Venezuela has rejected these claims, with Minister of the Popular Power for Interior Diosdado Cabello insisting none of those killed was a member of the Tren de Aragua gang, as alleged by Washington.

“They openly confessed to killing 11 people,” Cabello said on state television. “Our investigations show the victims were not drug traffickers. A murder has been committed against a group of citizens using lethal force.”

The White House defended the strike, with spokeswoman Anna Kelly calling the victims “evil Tren de Aragua narcoterrorists” and saying that Nicolas Maduro is “not the legitimate president of Venezuela” and is a “fugitive.”

Several countries deny Maduro’s legitimacy as a democratically elected leader due to what some have viewed as unfair elections, but the Trump administration has not provided evidence linking the Venezuelan president to Tren de Aragua. US intelligence agencies have said there is no sign of coordination between the government and traffickers.

Pentagon officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Venezuelan President Maduro announced the deployment of troops, police and civilian militias across 284 “battlefront” locations, reinforcing previous troop increases along the Colombian border.

Speaking from Ciudad Caribia, Maduro signalled Venezuela’s readiness to defend its water, saying: “We’re ready for an armed fight, if it’s necessary.”

The US has also expanded its military presence in the southern Caribbean, sending warships and deploying 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico.

Last month, Washington doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50m, citing alleged drug trafficking and criminal ties, a claim Venezuela denies, asserting it is not a drug-producing country.

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Callum Walsh credits work on Irish fishing boats with success

Callum Walsh knows what it means to earn a living with his hands. Before throwing hooks and jabs in the ring, he spent his days lifting cargo on fishing boats in the port of Cobh, under the cold Atlantic wind in his native Ireland.

He was only 16, but he already understood hard work. Today, at 24, he continues to work just as hard, although his stage has changed — now he does it under the bright lights of a boxing ring.

On Saturday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Walsh (14-0, 11 KOs) will have the night he always dreamed of.

He will fight on the co-main event of a card headlined by Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez and Terence Crawford, a huge platform for his young career, and it will be broadcast on Netflix, where he will risk his undefeated record in a 10-round super welterweight bout against another hungry youngster, Fernando Vargas Jr. (17-0, 15 KOs), heir to the surname of a former world champion.

Ireland's Callum Walsh punches Scotland's Dean Sutherland during a super welterweight boxing match on March 16.

Ireland’s Callum Walsh punches Scotland’s Dean Sutherland during a super welterweight boxing match on March 16 in New York.

(Frank Franklin II / Associated Press)

Far from trying to forget his days on the docks, Walsh is grateful for them.

“Training is tough, yes, but I enjoy it. It’s much better than getting up at dawn to go to the port,” Walsh said with a smile.

The work ethic he displayed as a loader on fishing boats also helped establish Walsh as one of the most promising prospects in world boxing.

The Irish southpaw has fought three times at Madison Square Garden and filled Dublin’s 3Arena last year. His aggressive and fast style sets him apart, with a volume of punches that rarely diminishes and a courage that leads him to exchange blows without backing down.

“I’ll be opening up to a much wider fan base. There will be a lot of people watching the fight,” said Walsh, who wants people to be satisfied with the contest, unlike the last Netflix show in which Jake Paul disappointed millions of viewers by having a very limited opponent, 58-year-old Mike Tyson.

“I want to show them what real boxing is all about. There will be a lot of people watching for the first time, and I want them to become fans,” said Walsh, an admirer of his compatriot, Conor McGregor, a UFC star.

Walsh is training at Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles under the watchful eye of Freddie Roach. There, the Irishman is combining his solid amateur foundation of more than 150 fights with the legendary trainer’s offensive style.

“I couldn’t have chosen a better teacher,” Walsh said.

On the other side of the ring, Walsh will face Vargas, a southpaw with a powerful punch who made his debut in 2020 but already boasts 17 victories — 15 of them by knockout. However, the odds in Las Vegas favor the Irishman.

“I don’t care about Las Vegas. Las Vegas loses all the time,” Vargas Jr. said on “The PorterWay Podcast” when asked about not being favored.

Undefeated junior middleweight boxers Callum Walsh and Fernando Vargas Jr. face off while Dana White stands between them

Undefeated junior middleweight boxers Callum Walsh, left, and Fernando Vargas Jr., right, face off while UFC’s Dana White looks on during a news conference at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday.

(Steve Marcus / Getty Images)

The fight will not only be a duel between undefeated fighters. It will also be a huge showcase. The powerful boxing promoter and organizer of the Canelo vs. Crawford fight, Turki Al-Sheikh, will be watching Walsh closely, as will UFC president Dana White, who has shared a growing interest in boxing.

“The lights can’t shine any brighter than that night,” warned Tom Loeffler, Walsh’s promoter.

But Walsh says he doesn’t feel any pressure. Not from the stage, nor from protecting his perfect record.

“Everyone can lose at some point. The important thing is to face real fights and give the public what they want,” Walsh said. At 24, he knows he still has a long way to go.

The story of the young man who left the boats for the ring will have a new chapter this Saturday in Las Vegas. It will be up to his fists to impress the world and confirm that he is no longer a prospect, but a reality.

This article first appeared in Spanish via L.A. Times en Español.

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Remote UK beach with gorgeous views was once a smugglers’ hideaway

Nestled in the southwest of Wales is a true hidden gem of a beach with beautiful and picturesque views – and it was once home to criminal smugglers hiding their loot in the caves

Nestled in the south west is this picturesque beach with beautiful views
Nestled in the south west is this picturesque beach with beautiful views(Image: Google maps)

This idyllic beach in New Quay, Wales, is the perfect scenic beach stop – but it was once home to criminals taking advantage of the picturesque location.

Cwmtydu Beach, also known as “Seals Bay,” is a small cove in the southwest, surrounded by cliffs and caves. It’s known for its views There are small caves cut into the cliffs, where French brandy and precious salt were hidden until they could safely be taken inland on horseback after being smuggled in.

The cliffs are also topped by a National Trust trail which is a great place for a walk taking in the views across Cardigan Bay, and the beach is dog friendly all year round. The beach is made up of soft pebbles and you will also find a great collection of rock pools. Fishing is also a popular activity with species such as flounder, plaice, dogfish, bass and gurnard in the waters.

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the beach
The remote beach was once used to smuggle goods from France(Image: Google maps)

The nickname Seals Bay comes from the resident seals that live in the waters, with a population of around 5,000 in the west part of Wales. You may also spot a bottlenose dolphin if you are lucky, that are sometimes found in the waters of Cardigan Bay.

There is also an old lime kiln on the beach that has been restored, and was originally used to burn limestone, brought by boat from Pembrokeshire and Cornwall, for use by farmers as fertiliser for crops grown in the area.

North of Cwmtydu also lies Castell Bach with the remains of a third century BC iron age fort. A spokesperson for Visit Ceredigion said: “Cwmtydu is a small cove that was once a harbour used as a traditional smugglers’ hideaway.

“Surrounded by cliffs and caves that were once used to hide French brandy and precious salt until they could safely be taken inland on horseback. The caves and rocks are known locally for being a favourite haunt of seals.”

Wales is home to a number of hidden gem beaches, including this sandy paradise that’s hailed as “one of Ceredigion’s best-kept secrets.” Penbryn Beach stretches for a mile through a picturesque cove, accessible via woodland paths through a fern-covered valley under National Trust stewardship, reports Wales Online.

This pristine coastline sits nestled between dune systems and dramatic clifftops, positioned between the more celebrated destinations of Llangrannog and Tresaith. Whilst it may lack the recognition of busier beaches, Penbryn has previously earned acclaim as amongst Britain’s finest.

The Telegraph featured this stunning location in their compilation of the nation’s 20 ‘greatest beaches’, with charming Penbryn securing a coveted spot.

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Harry is always fishing for anti-royal fodder for next tell-all book – Charles won’t let him back in fold, expert slams

KING Charles is unlikely to let Harry back into the royal fold should the pair meet in London this week, a royal expert has claimed.

The Royal Family can’t trust the Duke of Sussex for fear anything they say will be used in his next tell all, historian Hugo Vickers said.

Prince Harry taking a selfie with fans.

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Prince Harry has returned to the UK for the first time in months, but a royal expert says that his return will be met with ‘suspicion’Credit: Getty
Prince William speaking to a group of young people.

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Harry was heard joking about his ‘challenging’ relationship with Prince WilliamCredit: Reuters
An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Hugo Vickers at the Blenheim Palace Literary Festival

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Royal expert Hugo Vickers says that the Royal Family can’t ‘trust’ Harry anymoreCredit: Rex Features

Harry jetted into the UK yesterday, on the three-year anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death.

While Harry visited his grandmother’s grave, the Prince and Princess of Wales were hosting an event in the late Queen’s honour just eight miles away.

And the King is set to return to London from his Scottish break this week while Harry is in the UK – sparking speculation the two could meet.

However, Hugo Vickers – a royal expert and the author of several bestselling royal autobiographies – says Charles should tread carefully.

He says that the Royal Family “doesn’t trust” Harry anymore, after the Prince gave out personal “information” about them in his autobiography Spare.

Faced with the prospect of a second bombshell book, the family remembers how Harry caused “a lot of harm”.

Now, the Royal Family has to “tread very carefully” with the Prince.

Harry made headlines yesterday, when he was heard joking about the “challenging” relationship between siblings at a glitzy charity bash.

When he met Declan Bitmead – the 17-year-old winner of the inspirational young person 15-28 years award – Harry asked the youngster about his brother.

The Prince asked: “Does he drive you mad?

Could Prince Harry be ready to finally talk to King? Wayward Royal is set to return to UK

When Declan replied “no, we get on fine” Harry replied “you know what – siblings”.

And when told his brother went to the same school, Harry said: “You’re at the same school, that sometimes makes it more challenging.”

Hugo says that the strained relationship between the Prince and his brother, as well as with his father, can’t be repaired until he makes a big admission.

The expert says that, in order to get back in with the Royals, Harry will need to “apologise”.

Hugo said: “It would be in his, and everybody else’s, interests if somehow he could form some sort of personal reconciliation with his father.

“Because, we know even from Prince Harry’s book that his father said: ‘Don’t make my last years miserable.’

“And if something happens to the King and Prince Harry has not reconciled with him, then he’s going to be bearing more sort of guilt and remorse and things.

“And he’s got enough on his plate already with the death of his mother and the things that he feels about all that.

Prince Harry clapping enthusiastically at a live performance.

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Prince Harry has previously expressed a wish to return to the UK moreCredit: AFP
Prince William speaking with young people at Spiral Skills.

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However, Hugo thinks he needs to apologise to William and Charles firstCredit: Getty

“So in order for that to happen, he is the one who has to apologise. He is the one who has to give assurances.”

Harry’s current visit – set to last for four days – will be his longest since Queen Elizabeth II’s death in 2022.

The Prince previously lost his battle with the Home Office over the level of security he will be granted during visits to the UK.

That court battle reportedly cost Harry a staggering £1 million.

During the Prince’s current visit, King Charles III jetted back to London from his Scottish break.

The King had been in Balmoral for a month, with his return fuelling speculation that the pair could reunite after not seeing each other for 19 months.

However, Hugo says that there will always be “suspicion” over Harry’s return trips to the UK.

He said: “I suppose the suspicion is that, if he comes over here, he is sort of almost reestablishing himself as a member of the royal family.”

Hugo added: “But in the days when he was right in the middle of it and doing things, he was a very hardworking and successful member of the family.

“You know, putting in his bit for the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and all the things that he does.

“And, he was wearing fine uniforms and he looked like a prince.

“Latterly, of course, he’s just a guy in jeans with a backpack on his back.”

Now, Hugo says Harry can be seen “loitering in the background of one of Meghan Markle’s cooking sprees”.

Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, meeting with members of the National Federation of Women's Institute.

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He marked the third anniversary of his grandmother’s, the late Queen Elizabeth II, death just eight miles away from where his brother was commemorating herCredit: AFP
Prince Harry speaking with a young award recipient and their family at the WellChild Awards.

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Yesterday, Harry attended an award ceremony for inspirational young peopleCredit: PA

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Snowy peaks, orcas and an antique shop – the abandoned Norwegian fishing village that’s enjoying a revival | Norway holidays

We land on a white sand beach under jagged black mountains. A sea eagle, surprised to see humans, flaps away over the only house with a roof on it – the rest are in ruins. “Hundreds of people used to live here,” says Vidar. “In the days when you had to sail or row, it was important to be near the fishing grounds. Now there’s just one summer cabin.”

Jumping out of the boat, we walk along the beach. My daughter, Maddy, points out some animal tracks. “The fresh marks are wild reindeer,” says Vidar. “The older ones could be moose – they come along here too.”

Beyond the end of the beach are the small fields that the inhabitants once cultivated, now covered in wild flowers. In winter this would be an inhospitable place, but at the height of summer the flora and fauna are booming under a sun that never goes down. The people hunted a special type of cod, Vidar explains, the skrei, which migrates west from the Barents Sea to breed off Arctic islands such as this one, Skogsøya. This is the extreme edge of north-west Europe, isolated from the rest of Norway by a maze of twisting fjords and snow-capped inner islands. Head west from this beach and the first landfall is Greenland.

“When did everyone leave?” I ask, watching an otter swimming around the cove and diving into the kelp beds.

“It started with the terrible Arctic storm of 1893 that killed many people. Then the marine diesel engine came and they didn’t need to live out here. By 1952, they were all gone.”

The spectacular nine-mile Dronningruta hike is a major draw for visitors. Photograph: Christian Roth Christensen

Rudolf Diesel probably never meant to redefine the meaning of “remote”, but that’s what his eponymous engine did. Patented in that same year of 1893, his invention would inadvertently redraw the map of this coast. Places once inaccessible up long fjords could now prosper as sheltered havens, but exposed outer-island fishing villages, inhabited only for their accessibility to sailing and rowing boats, were left to return to wilderness.

Jumping back on the boat, we head northwards, weaving between rocky islets and rafts of puffins. Three sea eagles watch us warily. Then Maddy spots a group of black fins slicing towards us through the waves. Vidar cuts the engine. “You’re in luck,” he grins. Seconds later four orcas come rolling past, blowholes blasting – three adults and one calf, heading for a local seal colony. “Mostly they eat herring,” says Vidar. “But some do know how to catch seals.”

After a few precious minutes watching the orcas, we head back to Vidar’s base, the village of Nyksund, carving a tight bend through a narrow gap formed by a pair of craggy islands, then into the little harbour. The two sides of this tranquil haven are lined with clapboard houses, fish warehouses and rusting cranes. There are clamouring kittiwakes nesting on every available ledge; the wharves and decking have gaps; much of the paint is peeling. But this is a pretty spot, not gentrified – not yet. Nyksund is another abandoned fishing village, but with a difference. The people are coming back.

On the quayside, I meet Dan and Johanna, who will be our guides. They came here in the 1990s, finding only one aged resident remaining. The rest had left in the 1970s, tired of the awkward tiny harbour and crunching winter storms, but now the population is back up to more than 20.

A close encounter with orcas off the island of Skogsøya. Photograph: Kevin Rushby

That afternoon, we set out with Johanna on the Dronningruta (the Queen’s Route), a spectacular nine-mile (15km) hike that is Nyksund’s biggest attraction. The route leads up on to a ridge where I begin to see why this path is a favourite of Norway’s Queen Sonja. First, there are views south to the soaring mountains of Skogsøya, then a vast panorama of snow-capped peaks and islands opens up to the north. The lower slopes are emerald green all the way down to the azure sea. Under our feet is a thick carpet of leaves and flowers. On the windswept summits, juniper bushes grow horizontally, sheltering behind 5cm-tall crowberry bushes.

Finally we descend into the fishing port of Stø, taking a detour to see the church at Langenes, a rustic wooden masterpiece, parts of which date back to the 16th century. On the wall, in Gothic script, is the Lord’s Prayer in Old Danish, a reminder that Norway was under the control of Copenhagen for many centuries, achieving full independence only in 1905, after being ceded to Sweden in 1814.

We skip the return leg along the coast, opting for the boat service that shuttles us back to Nyksund. There is no second sighting of orca, but the ride is still an exciting rollercoaster through the swell, with an audience of seals and black guillemots. Back in Nyksund, we drink a beer in the cosy Holmvik Brygge bar, then eat a plate of local seafood in the Ekspedisjonen restaurant. Specialities include tørrfisk (skrei cod, air-dried then soaked in running freshwater for a week before cooking), black halibut and torsketunger, tempura-style cod’s tongue.

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The rocky islets are populated by puffins among other sea birds. Photograph: Hans Petter Sorensen

Dan and Johanna are wondering what kind of future their village might have. “It needs some development,” says Dan. “But what? There were plans for a five-star hotel, but that fell through. Whatever happens, Nyksund wouldn’t be able to cope with crowds.” The sense of community, however, is strong: they recently called a dugnad, a Norwegian tradition of collective voluntary action, in order to pave the village square.

Next morning, at the scheduled kelp-forest swimming session, there are no crowds, only myself, Maddy and our guide, Richards. A swim in the Arctic might sound intimidating, but the water, we discover, is not that cold when you’re inside 7mm-thick neoprene. We snorkel for an hour through a startlingly colourful world of bronze kelp fronds and vast schools of fish. Bright pink sea urchins cling to golden stalks of seaweed and, in the indigo blue distance, we glimpse the shapes of large grey cod. Beyond them, unseen, are the orcas, dolphins, seals and whales that inhabit this fertile world, a world that rolls onward, for the time being, unaware of human machinations over its future.

I dive down into the forest, pushing through the golden stems of kelp and turning over to watch air bubbles sliding up the silky fronds to the glittering surface.

Later, warming up in the cafe that also serves as an antiques shop, I meet the unofficial custodian of the town’s spirit, Atle Valland. Born here in 1944, Valland remembers a harsh environment where children were expected to work from the age of seven, their nimble fingers handy for slicing out the prized cod’s tongue. Having left, aged 16, to become a ship’s engineer, Valland returned in 2022 to find a few brave souls moving in. He shows me his prized collection of Russian porcelain. “I’m not a collector,” he chuckles. “I just take care of old things.” That care extends to a vast assortment of whalebones, tools, paintings, furniture and photographs, which he plans to turn into a museum.

On our last night, we join a good-humoured group for dinner, including the vicar, Gry, and her husband, Radar, who comes from the Lofoten Islands, about 100 miles to the south. When talk turns to the future of Nyksund, Radar has a warning: “Lofoten has so many tourists now, people are complaining that sometimes they can’t leave their houses. The streets are too full.”

The diesel engine altered the layout of this coast for a previous generation and now another technological innovation is driving more change. The Lofoten tourism tsunami powered by social media is bringing vast crowds to villages unused to visitors. Nyksund art gallery owner and photographer Svein Erik Tøien was moved to create a surrealistic collage of a giant cruise ship squeezed into Nyksund’s diminutive harbour. “I wanted to ask a question,” he says. “Is this what we want?”

When Maddy and I leave, we drive across the bumpy Nyksund causeway, then down 5.6 miles of narrow gravel track on the island of Langøya before we reach asphalt. In the past, perhaps, remoteness was as plentiful as the fish. Now the challenge is to make this most capricious of commodities into something sustainable.

Travel was provided by Discover the World, which offers a seven-night self-drive journey, Around Vesteralen, from £1,227pp including B&B accommodation (three nights in Nyksund), car rental and whale-watching. Further information from the Northern Norway tourist board

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U.K.’s top diplomat gets a warning for illegal fishing with Vice President JD Vance

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy went fishing with U.S. Vice President JD Vance earlier this month and the closest thing he came to catching was a whopping fine.

Lammy was given a written warning for fishing without a license, an Environment Agency spokesperson said Friday.

As far as breaking the law goes, it was pretty small fry but could have netted him a fine of up to 2,500 pounds ($3,380) for the offense.

Lammy, whose spokesperson described it all as an “administrative oversight,” purchased a license after-the-fact and reported himself to the agency.

Lammy hosted Vance and his family, who were vacationing in England, at his country estate south of London on Aug. 8. The two men smiled and laughed as Vance provided what Lammy called Kentucky-style fishing tips.

Apparently, the pointers didn’t help Lammy land a fish.

“The one strain on the special relationship is that all of my kids caught fish, but the foreign secretary did not,” Vance later said.

The Environment Agency would not comment on whether Vance had a license, citing data protection rules. The vice president’s spokesperson did not immediately reply to an email from the Associated Press seeking comment.

The agency said it confirmed that Lammy was given a warning because he had publicized it. In England and Wales, anyone over 13 needs a license for freshwater fishing, the agency said.

In most cases, inexperienced anglers caught without a permit are given warnings — so in that sense, Lammy apparently had some beginner’s luck.

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Beautiful seaside town in Devon that’s so pretty it ‘could be from a postcard’

Brixham is a charming seaside town that seems to have sprung straight from a postcard – here’s everything you need to know about the stunning coastal retreat

Colorful seaside village of Brixham Devon
Brixham is a charming seaside town in Devon(Image: Getty)

There’s a picturesque seaside town in Devon that could easily be mistaken for a scene from a postcard, known for its vibrant houses that tumble down the hillside towards the bustling harbour.

If you’re looking for a last-minute holiday plan, Brixham may have you covered. This quintessential British seaside experience captivates visitors from the moment they step foot in the town. The heart of Brixham is its lively harbour, where fishing boats, yachts and pleasure crafts bob gently on the water.

With a rich maritime history, Brixham has been one of the UK’s most significant fishing ports for centuries. In similar travel stories, here’s a small fishing village with some of UK’s best seafood but hardly any tourists.

READ MORE: Europe’s safest city is a seaside gem and it’s a sunny Mediterranean spotREAD MORE: Don’t leave Malaga without travelling 20 minutes to see attraction straight from fairytale

Brixham, Torbay, Devon, England: Pastel-coloured houses and buildings reflected in the harbour water (Photo 2)
Brixham is known for its colourful houses cascading down the hillside(Image: Getty)

Visitors can still witness fishermen hauling in their daily catch, with Brixham’s fish market providing some of the country’s finest seafood, reports the Express. This fresh bounty is celebrated in the town’s numerous seafood restaurants, where you can savour everything from traditional fish and chips to gourmet dishes.

A stroll through Brixham’s narrow, winding streets feels like stepping back in time. The beautifully maintained pastel-coloured cottages and shops add to the town’s picture-perfect charm.

Many of these buildings are adorned with hanging baskets brimming with flowers, enhancing the town’s already considerable appeal. For those seeking panoramic views of the harbour and surrounding coastline, a trek up to the Berry Head Nature Reserve is a must.

This dramatic headland offers breathtaking views across Tor Bay, and on a clear day, the vista stretches for miles. The area is teeming with wildlife, offering the opportunity to spot dolphins, seals and a variety of seabirds.

READ MORE: ‘I live in Italy and tourists should know one thing if they’re coming this week’

Brixham forms part of the breathtaking English Riviera, a stretch of South Devon coastline famed for its mild climate, stunning beaches, and quaint towns.

From Brixham, you can easily venture to nearby towns such as Paignton and Torquay, each boasting their own unique attractions. Whether you’re after a tranquil retreat, a maritime adventure, or simply a place to savour some of the UK’s finest seafood, Brixham caters to all tastes.

So, if you’re looking for a short staycation away from the hustle and bustle of city life, Brixham is the perfect place. Ideal for couples, families and even as a solo retreat. Not too far away from home, yet it still feels like a holiday abroad.

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Federal judge bans commercial fishing in sensitive Hawaii ecosystem

Aug. 10 (UPI) — A federal judge in Hawaii has outlawed commercial fishing in the Pacific Islands Heritage marine national monument, a protected and fragile ecosystem in the Pacific Ocean.

The action by judge Michael WJ Smith reverses a decision made by a branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that banned fishing in parts of the monument that was signed by President Barack Obama while he was in office.

Smith’s ruling comes about a week after President Donald Trump signed a proclamation that reveres federal fishing regulations in the monument, a world heritage fund site that is home to marine mammals, seabirds and coral reefs.

Friday’s court order by Smith means that commercial fishing cannot occur in waters 50 to 200 nautical miles around Johnson Atoll, Jarvis Island and Wake Island, and must stop immediately.

“The Fisheries Service cannot ignore our perspectives as the native people who belong to the islands and to the ocean that surrounds us,” said Solomon Pili, Kaho’ohalahala, a founding member of Kapa’a, the Conservation Council for Hawaii and the Center for Biological Diversity.

“The law guarantees a process where we can advocate for protecting the generations of our children’s children who are yet to be born.”

Earthjustice, an environmental conservation group, filed a lawsuit in May, arguing the National Marine Fisheries Service violated federal law by sidestepping the formal rulemaking process required to change fishing rules, which mandates public notice and comment.

President George W. Bush established the moment in 2009. It comprised 500,000 square miles of a remote part of the central Pacific Ocean southwest of Hawaii. Obama widened the area in 2014.

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Netflix’s Too Much star Daisy Bevan is spitting image of BBC star mum and iconic British family

Lena Dunham’s new comedy-drama Too Much arrived on Netflix today – but one particular star has made fans do a double take over her resemblance to her BBC star mum

Netflix's Too Much landed on the streamer today
Netflix’s Too Much landed on the streamer today(Image: Ana Blumenkron/Netflix)

Lena Dunham finally returned to our screens today with her latest Netflix comedy-drama Too Much – a semi-biographical love story starring Megan Stalter and Will Sharpe. Loosely based on the story of how Lena ended up with her British musician husband Luis Felber, the ten-parter follows Jessica as she moves to London from New York after a devastating break-up.

While stars Megan and Will have received rave reviews since the show landed on Netflix, many viewers have been distracted by actor Daisy Bevan thanks to her resemblance to her very famous mother. The 33-year-old plays Josie – one of Jessica’s new colleagues in London – and takes on one of her biggest roles to date on the series, having previously appeared in McDonald & Dodds, The Alienist and The Outcast.

Daisy Bevan plays the role of Josie in Too Much
Daisy Bevan plays the role of Josie in Too Much(Image: Getty Images)

Daisy is the daughter of Nip/Tuck star Joely Richardson and film producer Tim Bevan, having followed her parents into a career in showbiz. Joely is best known for her role on Showtime/BBC Two show The Tudors as well as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Sandman, 101 Dalmations and other big projtects.

Joely, 60, is also a member of the Redgraves – a family of iconic actors which includes her mother, Call the Midwife’s Vanessa Redgrave, her film director father Tony Richardson, her late sister, Maid in Manhattan’s Natasha Richardson, and her cousin, Doctor Who’s Jemma Redgrave.

Joely Richardson congratulated her daughter Daisy Bevan on Instagram
Joely Richardson congratulated her daughter Daisy Bevan on Instagram(Image: Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Daisy’s dad Tim is best known for producing Notting Hill, Four Weddings and a Funeral, The Theory of Everything, Darkest Hour and Love Actually. The couple married in 1992 but split nine years later.

Joely congratulated her up-and-coming daughter with a gushing post on Instagram, writing: “To Daisy Carmen the wisest and most inspirational person I know, and the magnificent and groundbreaking Lena Dunham – congratulations on the launch of ‘Too Much’ tomorrow night on Netflix.

“A friendship that blossomed into creative endeavour. I’ve only seen the trailer but ‘British Jones’ instead of Bridget Jones had me laughing out loud.

“Couldn’t help but include childhood snaps with a nod to rust coloured beanies. What a cast. ps. And @rooibos_ldn for best haircuts. Am filled with PRIDE in every sense of the word.”

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‘A town built on fishing and fun’: why Great Yarmouth will always be my first resort | Norfolk holidays

‘Circus is an art form of the people. I fundamentally believe that.” I’m in Great Yarmouth for a long weekend, standing in the ring at the Hippodrome circus, bristling from that particular crackle of energy you get from an empty stage. Ringmaster Jack Jay, the fourth generation in a family of impresarios, is fresh from his annual scouting trip in search of international acts to tread the boards in Norfolk: “We have artists whose CV reads ‘Macau, Las Vegas, Great Yarmouth’,” he tells me. “That’s the standard we aim to bring in.”

The Hippodrome is a national treasure, one of only two purpose-built circuses left in the country (the other is part of Blackpool Tower, which Jack’s father also managed, briefly, in the 1980s). Founded in 1903 by equestrian George Gilbert, who ran off to join the circus aged 11, it’s an ornate building with art nouveau flourishes. But the real extravaganza is the sinking floor, restored by the Jays in 1979. Using original mechanisms, the ring is transformed into a pool with fountains and synchronised swimmers for the spectacular finale. I’ve seen the show countless times and it never loses its magic.

A holiday in Yarmouth will undoubtedly involve a Jay-run establishment at some point. They have two majestic Edwardian cinemas, one of which, the Empire, recently reopened as a live music and comedy venue. And the Windmill, originally nicknamed the Palace of Light thanks to the electric bulbs that illuminated its facade, now contains one of the best crazy golf courses I’ve been to (I am something of a connoisseur), crammed full of cinema and theatre memorabilia.

At this point I should add a disclaimer. I grew up on this stretch of coast and have always been Great Yarmouth’s biggest fan. My first jobs were in the caravan parks that dot the coastline, one of which employed every member of my family at some stage.

The Hippodrome, a rare purpose-built circus, was founded in 1903

The town has always inspired me, from writing books about the maritime origins of our clothes to exhibitions about swimwear. But it has also given me an understanding of the precariousness of seasonal work and the generational impact on communities forced to deal with declining industries, from fishing and shipbuilding to leisure and tourism.

While there is evidence of deprivation here, as there is in many coastal towns, there is also a strong sense of resilience. It’s a town with solid foundations, built on its twin pillars of fishing and fun.

Celebrating this heritage is the Ice House, which was recently transformed into the National Centre for Outdoor Arts and Circus by the Out There Arts charity, which runs the town’s annual circus festival. Built in the 19th century to store ice to transport fish, this unique thatched structure overlooking the River Yare has been converted into a training space and performance hub complete with pop-up cafe and bar.

On our sunset walk along the promenade, my partner and I stroll past the Winter Gardens, a magnificent seafront glasshouse with enough facets to rival a diamond. Closed since 2008 and clad in hoardings, this marvel of Victorian engineering is due to reopen in 2027 and will house a cafe, exhibition and events space, and horticultural displays to mimic the floral interiors of the original.

‘From the castle to the rocket ship, it is utterly entrancing,’ says Amber Butchart of Merrivale Model Village. Photograph: Josh Edgoose/The Guardian

For dinner, we head to Courtyard Italian Restaurante in the historic Rows, a tangle of narrow passageways that once formed the medieval heart of the town. The candlelit space is suitably intimate, with reservations lasting the whole evening so we can linger over our meal. The award-winning chef delivers generous portions of wild mushroom linguine. Sated and sleepy, we head to our hotel, the family-run Andover House. A restored Victorian building on a leafy side street, it is remarkably peaceful considering it’s just off the bustling stretch of promenade known as the Golden Mile.

The next day, we rise early for a visit to Merrivale Model Village, a fixture since the 1960s. I visit Merrivale every time I’m in town because, from the castle to the rocket ship, I find it utterly entrancing. Like a regular town, if slightly unhinged, and tiny. And it comes complete with an excellent penny arcade, a fantastic tearoom and nine-hole crazy golf.

The fact that attractions such as this have not only survived but thrived is largely thanks to the flair and innovation of the travelling show folk who settled in coastal resorts such as Great Yarmouth in the mid-20th century. Joyland, a seafront institution since 1949, was established by Horace Cole, who married into a travelling show family. Inspired by this lineage, he created the Super Snails and Tyrolean Tub Twist, rides that are still going strong, run by the fourth generation of Coles. Crammed with colourful attractions, from Neptune’s Kingdom (1970s) to the Spook Express (1990s), it plays out like a hallucinogenic history of the fairground.

When so much of our leisure industry is now corporatised, it’s refreshing to be in a town that is still dominated by family businesses. We head to the south end of the Golden Mile to visit the Pleasure Beach, run by the same family since the 1950s, who also trace their roots back to travelling fairs. Rides range from traditional (dodgems and the Scenic Railway wooden rollercoaster, which opened in Yarmouth in 1932 and is one of only two left in the country, the other being in Margate’s Dreamland) to the white-knuckle terror of the Sky Drop, which catapults us 22 metres above the seafront before plummeting back down to the ground.

Yarmouth’s wooden rollercoaster opened in 1932. Photograph: Josh Edgoose/The Guardian

After a turn on the Edwardian carousel (much more my pace), we stop for lunch at Sara’s Tearooms by the fortune-telling hut. Family-run since 1999, it prides itself on homemade fare, and Sara still bakes the cakes that you can eat on the beach terrace looking out to sea. We marvel at a gigantic sailing ship while I devour a perfect fish finger sandwich.

Before fish fingers there were, of course, herrings. From the 11th century, the town’s fortunes were made by the “silver darlings” migrating down the coast, and the bloater – an ungutted, lightly smoked herring – became a Yarmouth speciality in the 1830s. A century later, sending a box of them as a holiday gift was as common as sending a postcard, with up to 5,000 crisscrossing the country every day.

The Time and Tide Museum, housed in a Victorian curing works, gives visitors a visceral feel for the process (the oak-smouldered aroma still lingers in the smokehouse stacks) and a sense of the scale of an industry that once exported pickled fish to Germany and Russia and smoked fish to the Mediterranean. It also chronicles the area’s story, from the last ice age to the town’s heyday as a booming seaside resort.

Deckchairs for hire on Great Yarmouth’s huge beach Photograph: Roger Green/Flickr Vision

Great Yarmouth’s herring traditions are also kept alive in the White Swan, where we head for dinner. A seafood restaurant with a fishmonger’s attached, it overlooks the river next to one of the medieval town wall towers. It was set up by local fisher Paul Williams, who has his own smokehouse and prepares bloaters, kippers and red herring in the original Yarmouth way. Shiplap-panelled walls strewn with netting and photographs of fishing fleets give it the convivial air of a beach hut. Highlights are oysters Rockefeller followed by hake with sea-kissed samphire and cockle veloute. We vow to return in the autumn for bloater season.

Sunday morning starts with a wander through the Venetian Waterways, at the calmer north end of the seafront. Developed in the 1920s as a work scheme for unemployed men, it was designed to mimic the canals and bridges of Venice, albeit on a much smaller scale. The Waterways were recently restored as part of a seven-acre park with ornamental gardens, and include a boating lake which is home to swans, occasional herons and pedalos for hire.

We round off our weekend with lunch at the Pier Hotel in nearby Gorleston, enjoying Cromer crab and sweet cured herrings with a sea view. The coastline here is glorious: miles of wide, sandy beaches, tufted with marram grass and rippled with dunes. Looking out to people paddling in the waves, I recall ringmaster Jack’s words: “It’s like a pilgrimage. Even if you only go once, you should go on holiday to Great Yarmouth.”

The trip was provided by visitgreat yarmouth.co.uk. Double rooms at Andover House Hotel from £99 B&B

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