The National Fish and Chip Awards 2026 has crowned the best fish and chip restaurants and takeaways in the UK, with a pair based in the same area taking top honours
It is home to the UK’s best restaurants and takeaways(Image: Bloomberg Creative via Getty Images)
What’s been described as the ‘Oscars’ of the seafood sector has now unveiled precisely where Brits should be purchasing their fish and chips, and the answer lies in Yorkshire.
The National Fish and Chip Awards 2026 spotlighted the finest establishments within the fish and chip trade, crowning champions in both the Restaurant and Takeaway of the Year categories.
Claiming victory in both sections were two Yorkshire-based venues, alongside their runners-up, cementing the county’s reputation as the authentic birthplace of fish and chips.
For those fortunate enough to sample a chippy meal from Yorkshire, it comes as little shock that the region boasts the nation’s finest offerings.
With coastal destinations such as Scarborough and Whitby leading the sector, serving thousands of portions each day, some of the finest establishments are surprisingly those tucked away inland, where travellers stop off along their journey through the county.
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The Scrap Box, York
Among these hidden gems is The Scrap Box in York, crowned 2026 Takeaway of the Year. The venture was established by two local brothers with ambitions of creating a chippy catering to all the villages scattered between York and Pocklington, whilst serving those travelling towards the coast.
Situated at Trunk Road Services on Hull Road in Dunnington, the takeaway does precisely that. The two siblings running the establishment, Aman and Gavin Dhesi, discovered the site, which was formerly a considerably less appealing toilet block next to a layby, and imagined something remarkable for their business venture.
The roadside takeaway has accumulated an outstanding 200+ ‘excellent’ TripAdvisor reviews, with countless patrons raving about their experience.
One reviewer said: “I’m always wary of places that say ‘award-winning’ and never say what award they won!” However at this venue, the honours are clearly showcased for everyone to view.
Following their Takeaway of the Year triumph, Gavin said: “There are so many outstanding fish and chip shops across the UK and countless awards, but this is the one every chippy dreams of, the ‘Oscars’ of our industry!”.
“With the most rigorous judging and the highest calibre of past winners, it’s a true honour to be recognised at this level. To represent the very best of fish and chips for the year ahead is both humbling and hugely meaningful to our team and a testament to the craft, care, and consistency we put into every portion of fish and chips.”
The Trenchers of Whitby, Whitby
The Restaurant of the Year champion at the 2026 National Fish and Chip Awards was a local Whitby restaurant, known as the Trenchers of Whitby.
Just a short stroll from the tourist hotspot of Whitby Beach, the eatery has firmly positioned itself at the centre of the coastal town, naturally attracting visitors throughout the year.
Whilst the enviable location certainly plays its part, they secured first place thanks to their self-described “traditional method of beef dripping”, enabling them to deliver the “best possible product”.
It’s these deliberate approaches to preparing their mouth-watering dishes that have allowed the establishment to distinguish itself from rivals. Popular choices on their menu feature seafood salads, crab, lobster, fresh fish alongside homemade pies and lasagnes, Whitby scampi, and numerous vegetarian alternatives.
One delighted diner praised the “gravy is out of this world”. They shared: “We travelled to Whitby for a weekend away. We popped into Trenchers Friday night, we were seated in a booth, and the drinks arrived promptly once ordered… The butcher’s gravy was absolutely delicious, and we would return just for the gravy.”
Runners Up
The Yorkshire chip shops aren’t the only ones celebrating success, outperforming other venues across their respective regions. Shaw’s Fish and Chips of Dodworth, located in Barnsley, Yorkshire, secured second place in the Takeaways category, making it the nation’s second-best fish and chip takeaway.
Additionally, the National Fish and Chip Awards 2026 named Whitby’s Restaurant and Take Away in Rotherham, Yorkshire, as the third-best restaurant of the year.
The Fry Awards
Further cementing Yorkshire’s reputation as the go-to destination for fish and chips, the esteemed Fry Awards unveiled their definitive list of the UK’s best chippies in January this year. A staggering number of establishments from the top 50 hailed from the county, with Trenchers of Whitby earning another commendable nod in their top 10 restaurants list.
Here are all the Yorkshire fish and chip shops that made it to the Fry Awards:.
- Auckley Friery, Auckley, Doncaster
- Hird’s Family Fisheries, Halifax, West Yorkshire
- Kirbys of Horsforth, Horsforth, Leeds
- Kirbys of Meanwood, Meanwood, Leeds
- Lighthouse Fisheries of Flamborough, Flamborough, East Yorkshire
- Portside Fish & Chips, Starbeck, North Yorkshire
- Portside Fish & Chips, Kirkstall Road, Leeds
- The Codfather, Wakefield, West Yorkshire
- The Fish Bank, Sherburn in Elemet, North Yorkshire
- Your Plaice or Mine Mobile Van, Thorne, South Yorkshire
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