ChippyChat-May-25

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Issue 5 Volume 15 - May 2025

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

INSIDE OVER 50 IDEAS FOR NATIONAL FISH & CHIP DAY

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Ceresbrating National Fish & Chip Day! Does the British public really need a reason to enjoy fish & chips? Of course not—but the tenth anniversary of National Fish & Chip Day on 6th June 2025 offers something special for fish & chip shops like yours

By Stelios Theocharous

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understand the challenges we face in our industry—rising costs, stiff competition, and the constant battle to attract new customers. That’s why National Fish & Chip Day is more than just a date on the calendar. It’s a golden opportunity for you, as a business owner, to create buzz, deepen relationships with customers, and ultimately drive sales.

Here’s a few ideas to help you seize the moment and turn this day into a powerful marketing opportunity: Immediate Sales Boosters (Quick Wins!)

BOGOF Fish & Chips: Offer a ‘Buy One Get One Free’ deal (or Buy One Get One Half Price). Perfect for sharing—your customers feel valued, and it introduces new visitors to your quality product. The perceived generosity fosters immediate goodwill and encourages return visits.

Large for Regular: Offer customers large fish and chips for the price of a regular portion. It’s a simple yet effective way to impress customers without a significant cost increase.

Lunchtime Specials: Why not target local workers, students, and older customers by offering smaller portions at discounted prices during lunch hours.

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

Spend £15, Get a Free Side or Drink: Encourage upselling and higher average order values by rewarding larger purchases.

Kids Eat Free with Every Adult Meal: Families will love you, and it’s an easy way to introduce younger customers to your product early, creating loyal customers for the future. Think about pairing a small fish & chips for children with a large fish & chips for adults—simple, effective, and popular!

30% Off for Walk-ins: Encourage foot traffic and create excitement in-store by offering a significant discount for walk-in customers.

Building Long-Term Loyalty (Future Visits) Loyalty Cards: Offer cards where the 7th meal is free after six purchases.

This encourages repeat visits and establishes on-going relationships.

Golden Ticket: Slip surprise vouchers into random bags for a future free item. This creates excitement and word-of-mouth buzz, bringing customers back again and again. £5 Voucher for Next Visit: Give customers a voucher worth £5 off their next visit when they spend £25 or more today, promoting return visits.

Creating Community Goodwill Free Meals for Local Care Homes: Nothing feels better than giving back.

Providing small, complimentary portions for your local care home positions you as a valued member of the community.

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

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Pay-It-Forward Scheme: Allow customers to pre-pay for meals for those in need. This incredible gesture solidifies your shop as community-centred.

Nursery and School Deals: Provide smaller, affordable portions (like a 3oz fish and 5oz chips) to local children’s nurseries, and include vouchers for parents to encourage future visits.

Donate to Local Charity: Why not pledge £1 from every Fish & Chips sold to a great local cause, and don’t forget to have a collection tin on the counter.

Digital Buzz & Engagement • Social Media Giveaway: Launch a giveaway on social media. Ask customers to share posts, follow your page, and tag friends. Clearly state: • How to enter • What they can win • When the winner is announced A buzz online translates into foot traffic in-store.

Make Your National Fish & Chip Day Promotion Even Better You’ve already got some fantastic ideas, but why stop there? Here are five impactful strategies to help your business shine even brighter, engage more customers, and maximise your promotional efforts: 1. Reach Out to Local Media: Tell your local newspaper, radio station blogger, or Local TV about your exciting plans.

Invite them to visit and experience your event first-hand. Local media outlets love feel-good stories, and a quick mention can significantly boost your visibility and attract new customers.

5. Build Anticipation with a Countdown: Run a National Fish & Chip Day countdown on your social media, website, or instore. Daily reminders significantly boost customer engagement, making your shop the go-to destination on the day.

Expert Resources to Help You Get Started At Ceres, we’ve got your back! We’ve created plenty of helpful content to ensure your National Fish & Chip Day is a resounding success. Dive into our extensive library of insightful articles, podcasts packed with industry tips, and free business calculators to measure your costs, profits, and promotions accurately.

Whether you’re deciding on portion size, planning offers, or crunching numbers, our resources are designed to make your life easier and your events more profitable.

Share Your Celebrations!

We’d love to see how you’re celebrating this special day. Use the hashtag #NationalFishAndChipDay on social media so we can cheer you on, share your success, and showcase your brilliant ideas to inspire others in our thriving fish and chip community.

Get Started Today!

The actual cost to you is small, but the rewards can be immense. Let’s make this tenth anniversary the biggest and best celebration yet. www.ceres.shop

2. Collaborate with Nearby Businesses: There’s strength in numbers—partner with local pubs, bakeries, or breweries to create irresistible combo deals or shared promotions. Joint efforts expand your reach and foster community spirit.

3. Train Your Staff for Maximum Impact: Your staff are your ambassadors. Ensure they’re informed and ready to upsell special offers. Friendly, knowledgeable staff create memorable experiences, turning first-time visitors into loyal regulars.

4. Enhance Visual Appeal: Decorate your shop with branded balloons, colourful bunting, or eye-catching signs.

A vibrant atmosphere attracts attention, encourages social media shares, and spreads the word about your celebration.

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

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It’s National Fish and Chip Day. Join in and Let’s Celebrate

I Austen Dack Publishing Editor

t is now just a few weeks before National

sponsored by Middleton Foods, and The

Fish and Chip Day on Friday June 6th.

Q Partnership and supported by amongst

Once again, a massive thanks to NEODA

others Seafood from Norway and Frymax.

for organising this. We have 20 pages

Thanks as ever to our advertisers who

dedicated to the day itself, with a whole

help us to publish and deliver Chippy Chat

host of ideas of how you can get involved.

to you for FREE each and every month

Together with the NFFF National Fish &

Send me your National Fish & Chip Day

Chip Awards, our own open day at Isle

pictures too for use in our June and July

of Ely our industry needs these events

editions.

more than ever to push us to the forefront

Email me at austen@chippychat.co.uk

of hearts and minds of the nation. Let

Our website is www.chippychat.co.uk

us know what you are doing to help celebrate our national dish? The day is

Austen

Chippy Chat Ltd Oak Lane Littleport Ely Cambridgeshire CB6 1RS

www.chippy-chat.co.uk info@chippychat.co.uk Twitter @Chippychat Facebook Chippy-Chat TEL 01353 658216 FAX 01353 863 444 Managing Director John Boutwood Publisher Oliver Boutwood oliver@chippychat.co.uk Publishing Editor Austen Dack austen@chippychat.co.uk 07863123929 Design/Editorial Accounts Claire Boutwood-Potter accounts@chippychat.co.uk Advertising Sales and Promotions austen@chippychat.co.uk For PR and Editorial editorial@chippychat.co.uk

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

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Inside 6

Harriets of Fire!

Free food for Harry, Harriet, Frank or Francesca at Ramsdens

May 2025

We stay at The Bay Gardens Hotel to

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Diary Dates

discover the delights of St Lucia

Business or pleasure, dates not to be missed

FryitghtfullyGood!

Watch Out Beedle’s About!

Fry It 2025 – We sampled Babylon!

How Collins marked National Fish & Chip Day 2024

The Knight Riders!

Salt, Steam & Spirit:

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The Tension Mounts!

National Fish & ChipDay Celebrates 10th Anniversary!

The Top Takeaway

Cols to Newcastle!

Colmans A-lister approved restaurant

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opens in Newcastle

Cods to Speak About!

Wetherby Whaler or Krispies

Gadus - A Historic Faroese Moment

Wrap-up winning ideas for our big day

Yarm Road Fish & Chips Kids who help to decorate the shop for

#nationalfishandchipday with D-Day inspired art work!

Weymouth to Castle Douglas Ideas for National Fish & Chip Day all the way

Corblimey Fish & Chips, Malaysian Chippy Joins in on the Big Day

Patron of Honour!

Chippy Pat is back this time at Chez Fred!

THE BENCHMARK! Ben Shaws Totally timeless British flavours

Life Begins at Eighty!

Goldensheaf celebrates big birthday with a big prize!

Come to the Farm for Diddly Squat!

Come to the Farm for Diddly Squat!

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30 32

honoured as the winner of the first-ever Community Engagement prize

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

in the House of Commons

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Es 30 tab Ye lish ar ed s

Knight’s & Skippers

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The Five-Generation Story of Knights Fish Restaurant

50 Ideas for National Fish & Chip Day 2025

Ideas to choose from

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The Bay CityRollers

Frying Range Engineers Servicing all makes of ranges, covering East Anglia, East Midlands & London/M25 Annual Range Servicing • Insurance Certificates Duct Steam Cleaning • Repairs • Modifications

• Refurbished / Rebuilds / New • Traditional & Dutch Makes • Extraction Systems & Ductwork • Shopfitting Design & Refurbishment • Fire Damage, Repairs & Upgrades

For prompt, efficient service please call:

01553 772935

sales@klsonline.co.uk Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025 In association with

Frying Ranges

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Harriets of Fire!

Free food for Harry, Harriet, Frank or Francesca at Ramsdens

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ecently Frank’s RedHot teamed up with Harry Ramsden’s to add Frank’s RedHot flavour to their fish batter! To celebrate the Harry Ramsden’s chain gave away a free takeaway portion of Fish and Frank’s for anyone who could prove their name was either Harry, Harriet, Frank, or Francesca on Friday, April 11.

Fish and Frank’s were up for grabs at key Harry Ramsden’s restaurants across the country for one month, which will also have Frank’s RedHot available as a condiment for the next six months. The chain’s flagship location in Bournemouth was also rebranded to ‘Frank’s RedHot Ramsden’s’ for four weeks too.

Amit Singh, UK Marketing Director, said: “We’re beyond excited to bring the perfect balance of flavour and heat of Frank’s RedHot to a true British institution, Harry Ramsden’s. The new Fish and Frank’s menu item is the perfect way for fish and chip lovers to enjoy their favourite meal kicked up a notch. We can’t wait to see everyone’s reactions when they get their first taste!”

Edwina Low, Head of Marketing at Deep Blue Restaurants, said: “Harry Ramsden’s is built on tradition, but like Frank’s RedHot, we also love pushing the boundaries of flavour.

This partnership allows us to bring something fresh, exciting, and a little fiery to the table – and we were delighted to introduce the new menu at our iconic Bournemouth flagship restaurant on the 11th April as well as our locations across the nation.”

The namesake offer was available at Blackpool, Bournemouth, Brighton, Cheshire Oaks, Eastbourne, Great Yarmouth and Salford Quays Harry Ramsden’s locations.

Promotion was only available for the first 200 people with proof of IQ at each location on launch day and the portion included a cone of Fish and Frank’s. www.franksredhot.com

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

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Diary Dates

7th September 2025

Isle of Ely/Chippy Chat Open Day

Isle of Ely Chippy Chat Open Day – September 7th 2025 Join us on the farm to see how the 25/26 potato crop is faring. Great speakers and also free samples and more.

Business or pleasure, dates not to be missed...

18th May 2025 The KFE Ball

Time once again for the KFE Ball. An evening of fun and surprises at the wonderful Belfry hotel.

To book or for further information, please e-mail Tanya Henderson at sales@kfeltd.co.uk or call 01778 380448.

6th June 2025

1st - 7th October 2025

National Vegetarian Week Get ready to push your profits up catering for a growing trend.

The National Fish & Chip Day

Great British Pea Week!

The Chippy Chat Ball The Chippy Chat Ball is booked in.

Chat py ll 2 025

7th-13th July 2005

7th December 2025

Chi p

National Fish & Chip Day 2025 - Friday 6th June.

The biggest day on the fish & chip calendar – National Fish & Chip Day returns for it’s 10th Anniversary in 2025

Ch ristmas Ba

This year, Great British Pea Week will be returning from 7th-13th July, continuing its mission to inspire everyone to cook with peas.

26th September 2005

Macmillan Coffee Morning!

This year’s Coffee Morning day is Friday 26 September 2025

Keep up to date with trade events by visiting www.chippychat.co.uk and clicking on events. If you’re organising an event and would like to send us details so that we might mention it here and/or on the Chippy Chat website email your details to - austen@chippychat.co.uk

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

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HAPPY NATIONAL FISH & CHIP DAY FROM THE NATION’S NO.1 PIE BRAND*

Stock up now through your Pukka representative, wholesaler, or by calling 0116 264 4000 9

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

*Circana 52wk GB Chilled + Frozen Pie Brand Sales to 16th March 2025

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

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Watch Out Beedle’s About!

How Collins marked National Fish & Chip Day 2024

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irst launched in 2015, this year marks the 10th anniversary of National Fish and Chip Day, a significant milestone for our industry and a proud celebration of Britain’s most iconic dish. Organised by the National Edible Oil Distributors Association (NEODA), this awareness day was created to shine a spotlight on the heritage, people, and businesses that make up the fish and chip sector.

In 2024, National Fish and Chip Day held even greater meaning as it coincided with the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Across the country, fish and chip shops came together in celebration, paying tribute not only to a beloved national dish but also to the spirit of community and remembrance.

At Collins Seafoods, we were proud to mark the occasion by partnering with one of our valued customers, Beedles Chippy in Bishop Auckland. Together, we provided fish and chips to the residents of Church View Care Home in South Church.

The meals were cooked and delivered by James Beedle and his dedicated team and were warmly received by everyone at the care home. We were grateful for the opportunity to spend time with the residents and staff as they enjoyed their meals and watched the D-Day commemorations on television.

Moments like these remind us of the timeless comfort that fish and chips bring. Despite all the changes over the years, the dish remains a symbol of British

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tradition, family, and community. As we celebrate the tenth year of National Fish and Chip Day, there is no better time to honour every aspect of the industry — from the dedicated crews at sea and the passionate teams behind the counter, to the loyal customers who support them.

There are many ways to take part, from spreading the word on social media and decorating your shop, to running promotions and sharing your stories with others. NEODA provides a wide range of free downloadable materials and a campaign toolkit to help businesses get involved and make the most of the day.

As the UK’s leading supplier of Frozen at Sea fish, Collins Seafoods recognises the invaluable role our customers play in keeping this tradition alive. We look forward to seeing how you all celebrate this special day and encourage you to tag us in your social media posts so we can support and share in your celebrations.

Contact Collins Seafoods: Unit 2, Park 2000, Heighington Lane Business Park, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham DL5 6AR Tel: (01325) 315544 Fax: (01325) 314935 Web: www.collinsseafoods.co.uk Email: sales@collinsseafoods.co.uk Wraggs Seafoods: Unit 2, Felnex Crescent, Cross Green Industrial Estate, Leeds, LS9 0SN Tel: (0113) 2498832 Fax: (0113) 2490582 Email: sales@wraggsseafoods.co.uk

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The Top Takeaway

50 Ideas for

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THE TENSION MOUNTS! National Fish & ChipDay Celebrates 10th Anniversary!

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n 6th June 2025, the nation will come together to celebrate their favourite dish as National Fish & Chip Day is back…and this year it’s marking its 10th anniversary!

Held annually, this special day acknowledges the iconic status of fish and chips and, after beginning as a small initiative, has now grown into the UK’s biggest food awareness day. In 2024 93 million people would have seen, heard or read about the day!

National Fish and Chip Day recognises and thanks everyone involved in bringing this family favourite to the centre of every community; from the fishers who go out in all weathers to catch the delicious fish, and the farmers who grow and harvest the perfect potatoes and peas, to the fish and chip shops and restaurants, home chefs and celebrity chefs, who take those fresh ingredients and create this versatile dish.

Gary Lewis, President of NEODA (founders of the day), reflects on the success of the day saying “This year marks a significant milestone for National Fish and Chip Day as we celebrate its 10th anniversary!

Over the past decade, we’ve seen incredible support from everyone involved with fish and chips across the UK, and we’re thrilled to continue honouring this iconic British dish. Fish and chip shops are at the heart of our communities, and getting involved in this celebration is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the quality and tradition of this family favourite. We encourage all shops to take part and share in the pride and joy that National Fish and Chip Day represents.”

2025 plans are already in place for a grand 10thanniversary celebration so keep an eye out in your local area and find your own exciting ways of marking the occasion with competitions, offers and all-round family fun!

NEODA has been joined once again by two leading lights in the Fish & Chip industry, Middletons Foods and the Hook and Fish Packaging Range from the Q Partnership.

In addition, long-time supporters Seafood from Norway, Frymax, Olleco, Drywite and Blakemans continue to help make the day possible.

Visit www.nationalfishandchipday.org.uk to find out more.

Over the next 14 pages we are going to highlight how many shops got involved last year. It will give you over 50 ideas for the big day itself. Many of them don’t need you to spend vast sums of money but give you an idea of what can be done to join in on the day. Shout on your social media pages, decorate your shops, let’s join together to celebrate team fish & chips.

Please let me know what you are doing for NF&CD in 2025 by emailing me at austen@chippychat.co.uk Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

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The Top Takeaway

50 Ideas for

Miller’s, Haxby Celebrated the BIG day in 2024 by wearing branded merchandise, dressing up and celebrating Team Fish & Chips Wigmore Fish Bar “Oh my cod! It’s that time of year again! Please join us next Friday and enjoy this special offer to celebrate National Fish and Chip Day. Half price chips with every fish sold.”

Penaluna Fish & Chips, Aberdare For D Day 80 Anniversary, National Fish & Chip Day 2024 Penalunas gave away a FREE small portion of MUSHY PEAS with every Fish & Chips ordered.

Bankers Fish & Chips, Various Gave 25% off fish and chips purchased together as a meal through Click & Collect only Offer was not available instore or through home delivery.

Whitehead’s Fish and Chips, Hornsea 2023 award champion Geoff Whitehead was interviewed on local tv and radio too. Staff celebrated by dressing up too Lighthouse Fisheries of Flamborough “Our community means everything to us and we are honoured to respect our peers on this day of respect and remembrance.” The team delivered lunch to the local care home courtesy of Lighthouse Fisheries and many of its suppliers The Bay, Stonehaven To mark this special occasion, they gave away 80 FREE small fish and chips to the first 80 people who come to their click-and-collect window and said “D-Day fish and chips.”

Plus, they had some awesome merchandise giveaways happening throughout the day!

What a fantastic few weeks The Bay had promoting fish and chips and DDay in Normandy cooking 700 portions on the Beach and 600 portions at HMS Sultan Gosport for the serving members of the Royal Navy. This was only possible with the support from suppliers and friends. Thanks to Neoda , National Fish and Chip Day National Federation of Fish Friers - NFFF Middleton Food Products Smales Fish Merchants Couper seafoods Isle of Ely Produce The Real Fresh Chip Co Stokes Sauces Henry Colbeck ESS, Compass Group, DFDS, & the Normandy tourism board Seniors Fish and Chips, Blackpool/Various FREE FISH BITES - It’s International Fish & Chip Day! It’s their favourite day of the year!!

Add the 3 fish bites to your basket and use code: FISHBITES at checkout to get them for FREE. *Offer ends 8pm Sunday. Minimum order for offer £20.

Offer is only available online and for delivery. Add the 3 fish bites to your basket to redeem the offer!

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The Top Takeaway

50 Ideas for

Churchill’s Fish & Chips FREE chips with any size Haddock on National Fish & Chip Day! Available all day, in-store & through click & collect Captains Fish & Chips, Hoddeson Celebrating their favourite day of the year, National Fish and Chip Day! Last year it also coincides with the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings.

To celebrate and remember these two special occasions, they asked their customers to treat themselves, to their amazing offer of Cod and Chips for just £8.50.

This superb offer was available at Captain’s Fish & Chips Friday 7th June. 11-9pm.

The Cod’s Scallops – Nottingham/All shops Staff wore fish and chip day branded t-shirts. They also dressed up for D-Day too. On the day there were big queues following their Top 20 inclusion in the Guardian and Top 5 in local press too Wetherby Whaler, Wetherby/All shops Little one’s colouring competition. They could win themselves a £25 Smyths gift card!

All they needed to do was to grab a colouring sheet from one of our restaurants (it looked just like the one pictured) and get creative!

The following rations were also available from Thursday 6th June until Sunday 9th June ONLY! Blitz Soup Haddock & Chips Brown Betty 3 courses for £19.44 with £2 from every meal going to their selected charities. Staff dressed up and encouraged customers to do the same to celebrate National Fish & Chip Day AND the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day landings The Bearded Sailor, Pudsey Encourages customers to use the code FISHANDCHIPS10 to get 10% off their click and collect order when they spent £20 or over. Orders were placed at thebeardedsailor.co.uk and code was used at checkout.

They REFUNDED one lucky customer’s entire click and collect order.

Krispies, Exmouth They love their Krispies customers. To show their appreciation, thery have an Elite Customer program!

As an Elite Krispies Customer, they enjoy: A £5 reward just for signing up 10% off a Birthday treat Plus exclusive offers in their regular newsletter Fish Bank, Sherburn Free kids fish & chips to all children who coloured in their special poster and handed it in on the 6th June.

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The Top Takeaway

50 Ideas for

Crisp & Fry, Carmarthen WIN WITH THEM... On National Fish & Chip Day 2024 To celebrate National fish & chip day they gave away 4X Fish & Chips.

To Enter: Share Their Facebook Post - Like Or Love It - TAG someone to share with.

The winner was announced on Thursday the 6th of June.

SPIN THE CRISP & FRY WHEEL - Win prizes on their NF&CD wheel Applied to customers spending over £10.

Skippers, Euxton Andrew Crook drove south after work to help friend Calum of The Bay in Stonehaven cook fish and chips for 500 Navy Cadets at HMS Sultan to mark #nationalfishandchipday and #dday80beaconlighting Skipper’s also had a special offer of fish and chips at £7.50 on the day with a pound of that going to charity.

Andy’s Fish Bar, Swadlincote Celebrated National Fish and Chip Day with £2 OFF any meal deal lunch and evening! This included: Walk-ins - Click-and-Collect Delivery (EVENING) Fish and Chips @ Weston Grove They used the special V.A.Whitley & Co Ltd wonderful #nationalfishandchipday boxes. They went down a treat.

Ship Deck, Caerphilly Fish & Chip Day preparations today: Tag away and celebrate with us. Lunch break deals sorted for Thursday 6th for only £1.99 Knight’s, Glastonbury They partnered with Glastonbury town council to provide food for their DDAY veteran celebrations in the town centre.

They hosted pupils from local schools on the day to educate them on the work and skills that go into our nations beloved dish.

They also launched a loyalty scheme for all customers to entitle them to a fish & chip meal for 1944 prices!

For every fish sold on the 6th June they donated £1 divided equally between; The Royal Navy and Merchant Navy Associations, Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

Customers celebrated #nationalfishandchipday at Knights with a lite bite for £4.95*. Available to order in-store or online!

Redcloak Fishbar, Stonehaven Local radio host Jeff from Jeff and Lauren in the Morning popped in to celebrate National Fish and Chip Day . Jeff decided he wanted to try his hand at frying and learn the secrets behind their award winning fish and chips The Fish Works, Largs They offered free meals throughout the day with a special timer and a free mini sausage with every fish supper (while stocks last).

They also displayed war artefacts, their beacon lamp lighting, and had the stirring tunes of a piper commemorating Piper Bill, who courageously piped our men into Normandy Beach on D-Day. And that’s not all – they supplied 50 fish suppers to The 25 Group Royal Observer Corps Association 18

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The Top Takeaway

50 Ideas for

Nazeing Fish & Chips To celebrate this great day, they offered cod and chips for just £8.50! Customers were flocking into this great shop all day.

FiddlersElbow, Leintwardine Celebrated National Fish and Chip Day on Thursday 6th June, with a special offer in honour of the 80th Anniversary of D-Day! For just £6.50, customers could enjoy a delicious D-Day Special: 4-6oz fish with standard chips, or upgrade to a meal for only **£1** more and choose from curry, gravy, or mushy peas served on their meal!

Special Donation - £1 from each sale was donated between The Fishermans Mission & D-Day. Plus, an additional 50% from the upgrade was donated too!

To avoid missing out and/or long queues, they highly recommend pre-ordering online (when available).

A big thank you to their suppliers, Smales Fish Merchants and T.L Walker, for their support with this offer.

J Henry, Hedge End Gave an UBER delicious offer for National Fish and Chip Day!!

They went live on TikTok for anyone that would like to join @ LeeFishandChips.

They offered £10 OFF UBER EATS WITH CODE JHENRY10, on the day.

Catch Fish & Chips, Ashford They had an amazing deal on 2x standard Haddock and Chips for just £17, Monday – Thursday to celebrate NF&CD! This deal was also available for gluten free on Wednesdays.

Yarm Road Fish & Chips, Darlington A HUGE thank you went out to all the kids who have helped them to decorate the shop for #nationalfishandchipday with D-Day inspired art work! It looked wonderful Alan’s Fish & Chips, Cullompton To celebrate the 80th anniversary of D-Day (and National Fish and Chip Day) they asked if customers could send in any photos of family members who have served in the military (both present and past). These went alongside their lantern of Peace to celebrate all that they do and have done for our country!

Their special offer for National Fish and Chip Day and the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day landings, was Regular cod, chips and mushy peas for just £10.

Towngate Fisheries, Idle On National Fish & Chip Day - They were open all day 11.30am - 8.00pm. Every customer who spent £10 or more will receive a “buy one get one free” fish & chips voucher. They were valid every Monday to Thursday from 10th June to 1st August.

Vouchers could only be redeemed when ordering in the shop not when using their click & collect service.

Hawthorn Fish Bar, Birmingham Mini fish & chips with choice of curry or peas and a can of Pepsi for only £5.00 Customers had to state National Fish & Chip Offer 20

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The Top Takeaway

50 Ideas for

Bennetts Fish & Chips, Weymouth Customers were asked to join them at the Nothe Gardens for a free taster portion of our Fish & Chips from 4pm-5pm!

The chip van was there until 9pm, with lots of going on throughout the evening to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, including the lighting of the beacons, a big screen, and a military vehicle display.

At their shop at 12pm, the first 80 portions of Cod & Chips were half price! This offer was limited to 2 portions per customer, and was available for walk-ins only.

Meanwhile in London...they handed out free Fish & Chips at Trinity House to mark the D-Day 80th anniversary and National Fish and Chip Day. Kellaway’s Fish & Chips, Truro June’s £5.00 lunchtime offer was proving popular!

Available 11:30am-2:00pm everyday throughout June.

2 x sausages and small chips only £5 East Coast, Musselburgh To celebrate, they gave customers the chance to WIN a £150 VOUCHER to spend at East Coast.

To enter, all they needed to do was: Like & share the post, follow their page, and Tag 1 person Then subscribe to their newsletter online, https:// eastcoastrestaurant.co.uk/ or send us a DM with your email address and we will get you added!

Once they had followed all of above, they were entered into the prize draw!

Kirbys, Meanwood Kirbys ‘Eat For Victory’ Ration Book Keep Your Eyes Peeled! - Every purchase on National Fish & Chip Day 2024 received a flyer marked with a ‘Unique Code’. Customers simply scanned the QR code to enter Kirbys ‘Eat For Victory’ Competition.

Two lucky winners received 52 VOUCHERS which allowed the book holder to purchase delicious Kirbys Fish & Chips for only £7.

Mister C’s, Selby To celebrate they gave away FREE fish and chips to armed forces veterans in their restaurant Prices Fish & Chips, Ringwood A competition with £20 voucher up for grabs……

They operated with the normal menu but had these two deals alongside to celebrate national fish & chip day from 5-9pm!

Small Cod & Chips £5 Jumbo Sausage (plain or battered) & Chips £5 Moore’s Fish and Chips, Castle Douglas On 6th June they gave away 5 ration vouchers to be spent on fish and chips in their shop.

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The Top Takeaway

50 Ideas for

Corblimey Fish & Chips, Malaysia Cor Blimey Restaurant had some amazing promo offers to celebrate this iconic day for customers covering the whole of June!

Special Promo Offers Sharing Platter for 2 Combo Set: Get 1 FREE SNAPPER FISH! Family Feast Combo Set: Get 2 FREE SNAPPER FISH! The Reel Plaice, Plaice to Be Ayr/Kilmarnock ITS NATIONAL FISH & CHIP DAY. They love this day and celebrated with their usual printed t shirts and smiley faces With 10% of all orders over £10… for their fresh quality fish & chips cooked to order. Plus win a meal for two Westend Fish & Chips, Accrington Colouring competition!

They encouraged little ones to help decorate their window for National Fish and Chip Day. 1st prize- Fish & chips 2nd prize - waffle or crepe 3rd prize - Ice Cream Winner was announced on national fish and chips day 6th June!

They also offered a superb Mini fish and chips for just £5!

Giacopazzi’s, Eyemouth Their special Free Fish & Chip offer that’s happening in honour of National Fish and Chip Day! It was a Buy 1, Get 1 Free offer which was applied to both Large & Small Fry Supper and was available exclusively to all existing Takeaway Loyalty Card Holders The Real Food Cafe, Tyndrum They had great fun celebrating national fish and chip day with their customers . With top prizes; fish and chips on them and hand crafted Grace Chocolates chocolate fish n chips.

They were open till 9pm and all you needed to do in order to ‘spin to win’ was order a portion of fish and chips.

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Finneys, Benllech They sold tickets for £1 for a chance to win one of 80 Fish and chips at Benllech and Finney’s at Port Chippy, Amlwch. All Proceeds went to Help For Heroes and Fishermen’s Mission. A big thanks to V.A.Whitley & Co Ltd, Stokes Sauces & Smales Fish.

They were open 11:3020:30. Tickets were on sale all day but only until stocks lasted. Had to be used on June 6th unless brought online if you were a winner. (1x small fish and chips in the same box per winning ticket). Plus they collaborated with Benllech Community and ex servicemens hall and sold tickets for the D Day Celebrations. £5 for Fish and chips from them (eaten at the hall) Followed by Beetle drive, wartime songs and a Remembrance wave of light at 21:15.

French’s, Wells Next to Sea D-Day 80th Anniversary ceremonial event on the Quay, with lighting of the beacon.

They opened till 8pm for customers to grab fish & chips for this special event, in collaboration with National Fish & Chip Day. They wrapped in paper for the day and had a special offer small cod & chips for £6 all day Frydales, Leicester It was an EXTRA special Thursday Club at Frydales! Because it’s NATIONAL Fish and Chip Day! To celebrate, they gave away 100 FREE fish and chip meals, and also offered an exclusive 30% off to ALL our click and collect customers!

Ordered via: frydales.co.uk

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Patron of Honour!

Chippy Pat is back this time at Chez Fred!

By Austen Dack

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ust when you thought she had hung up her Chip shop apron, Chippy Pat is back and has been on one of her chip shop visits. At the tender age of four score years and a few more, Pat (aka my mother-in-law) came along with us to have some delicious fish and chips and of course her customary glass of white wine (large) on the very day we were in town to see Ipswich take on Bournemouth.

Fred (he put the Fred in Chez Fred) was on hand to welcome us and even to suggest something new to try on his menu.

Cooked with care and served with a smile... fish and chips at Fred’s – is the ultimate comfort food. Responsibly sourced fish, potatoes fresh from the farm and Fred’s homemade mushy peas - everything is prepared on site with the pride and care that befits Britain’s national dish and continues to make them amongst the best in the UK. As with most days at Chez Fred there was already a queue at the door before the 11.30pm opening time.

Thankfully Fred had saved a table for us (thanks Fred), as the restaurant had quickly filled. I ordered the haddock and chips with a baked bean side, Pat had cod and chips with mushy peas, Sarah the same with Coeliac Amanda having the poached haddock with salad.

As we waited for the order, I had a quick tour with Fred and a few photos. It had been six years since my previous visit, and I was keen to reacquaint myself with him and the team.

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Soon our order arrived my regular haddock was a great size with a perfect covering of wispy crispy batter. It came with an ample portion of chips (which are unlimited too). The couple next to me come in weekly for their rock salmon and chip fix. Being from London that was there go to fish. It is something ive not tried, so Fred bought me a piece over.

Immediately you could see the difference in the way the batter holds and looks on rock versus the haddock. It was darker and perhaps a tad looser. The fish itself was meaty but in much smaller flakes and tasty.

As usual the restaurant, people and food were excellent at Freds, but the last word comes from Pat herself. “Fred is such a perfect gentleman, his food is excellent (and the wine) and the service is second to none, it’s a 10/10 from me” she said.

To make the day even more special Ipswich won at Bournemouth to make it a ’ Chez Fred’ double beating his team Spurs away and his local team too – perfect

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Chippy Chippy ChatChat & Fast & Food Fast Food Magazine Magazine • February • May 2025

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THE BENCHMARK! Totally timeless British flavours – that’s Ben Shaws.

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rom humble beginnings in 1871, Ben Shaws has stood the test of time with timeless fizzy soft drinks that are proudly British. Nothing beats your favourite classic meal accompanied with a can of your favourite Ben Shaws flavour.

Ben Shaws has been in the fizziness for 150 years and champions bold flavour exploration.

Whilst some flavours come and go – the classic British flavours of Dandelion & Burdock, Bitter Shandy, Cloudy Lemonade and Cream Soda remain the most refreshing flavours to serve with your favourite classic dishes.

Ben Shaws has seen many changes over the 150-year history, but one thing has stood the test of time; the fantastic taste that you’ll never forget. Which is your favourite classic flavour? It might be Dandelion & Burdock or Bitter Shandy, but rest assured it is always Ben Shaws.

This year, Ben Shaws embarked on an exhilarating journey, attending numerous trade events across the country. We handed out point of sale materials and refreshing samples, bringing our timeless British flavours to enthusiastic fans. Each event was a fizzy celebration of our heritage and bold flavours.

Embrace the magic, mayhem and madness and join us on a crazy journey of flubbles (flavoured bubbles) to discover our whizzy fizzers of nostalgic niceness by adding a little fizz to your Fry-days and trying Ben Shaws today.

Explore the rest of the Ben Shaws range available in a 330ml aluminium can and 500ml PET format: Root Beer (330ml only)

Keep it under your (cowboy) hat, Root Beer is the cool, classic taste of the USA. Great with or without a scoop of ice cream, whatever floats your boat!

Cloudy Lemonade (300ml / 500ml) It might be cloudy but it’s bursting with the brightness of zingy lemons – how refreshing!

Bitter Shandy (300ml / 500ml) Made with British beer, the refreshing flavour of Bitter Shandy tastes just like the stuff from the pub – but don’t be fooled by the feisty exterior, this drink is softer than it looks!

Dandelion & Burdock (300ml / 500ml) The eccentric, botanical blend of wild and unruly dandelions and the purple flowering Burdock, sounds rather daft but did you know, our British ancestors have been making this mysterious combination since the middle ages, proving it’s totally timeless!

Cream Soda (330ml) Take your taste buds on a trip to the seaside, the nostalgic flavour of cream soda is just like having an ice cream on the sea front but without the threat of low flying seagulls.

Summer Berries (330ml / 500ml) Embrace summer with Ben Shaws Summer Berries, our refreshing soft drink bursting with vibrant, natural berry flavours. Perfect for warm days or a fruity pick-me-up, it invigorates your senses with every sip. www.benshawsdrinks.com

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s e l b s b e l u b b B Bu st e b r i e at th

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To stock contact: info.uk@refresco.com 674915 Chippyor Chatcall & Fast 01509 Food Magazine • May 2025

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

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Life Begins at Eighty!

Goldensheaf celebrates big birthday with a big prize!

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oldensheaf, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of batter mix, is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year by giving back to the fish and chip industry with a monumental prize.

One lucky winner will receive an incredible 80 x 16kg bags of Goldensheaf premium batter worth over £2,000.

First produced in 1945, Goldensheaf has an established flour heritage dating back even further to 1857. This long-standing tradition of excellence ensures that every product in the Goldensheaf range

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delivers the finest quality and consistent performance.

All of Goldensheaf’s wheat is sustainably grown and milled within a 40-mile radius of its manufacturing site in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.

With a continued commitment to innovation, Goldensheaf has expanded its product range across its 80 years, developing batter mixes that offer a variety of fry colours, tastes and textures to meet the industry’s diverse regional preferences.

Karen Heavey, Brand Manager at Kerry Foodservice, comments: “We are incredibly proud that Goldensheaf has been a trusted name in the fish and chip industry for 80 years. Not only has it stood the test of time, but it remains a market leader, relied upon by generations of shop owners. Our commitment to innovation ensures we continue to develop new products that meet evolving market demands — whether it’s improved flavour and colour, crispier batter with better hold for delivery, or healthier options with lower calorie content and reduced oil retention.

“We’re excited to share our big 80th anniversary with the industry by holding an equally big competition. We wish everyone the best of luck in our celebratory giveaway.”

To enter, friers simply need to visit: h t t p s : //w w w. s u r vey m o n key. c o m /r/ V5KKPXD, answer five short questions and submit their entry before midnight on Saturday 31st May. One winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries. The winner will be contacted in the first week of June, and the announcement made on social media.

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Come to the Farm for Diddly Squat!

Come to the Farm for Diddly Squat!

By Austen Dack

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e can’t wait to see you all at the Isle of Ely Produce Open Day once again on Sunday September 7th 2025.

The event put on by John, Oliver and Claire Boutwood and hosted by myself highlights the journey the potato makes before it hits shops. It is the highlight of their ‘field to frier’ platform, which also this year includes the story of the potato seed too. The day although dedicated to the potato in recent years has taken on the mantle of being a showcase for what’s also best practice in the industry.

Some of the best fish and chip shop owners from across the UK will present on the day from a 40foot impressive AV stage show set up in one of IOE’s potato storage sheds. In 2024 over 100 friers, farmers & suppliers travelled to Ely Cambridgeshire for the 10th annual Isle of Ely Produce & Chippy Chat open day.

We will have some brilliant industry speakers lined up including National

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

Fish and Chip shop takeaway award winners Will Burrell from Yarm Road Chip Shop in Darlington, Field to Frier winner Jamie Russo from Redcloak Fish Bar, Jonathan France from the Fish Bank,Sherburn and David and Nick Miller from Millers Haxby. More will be announced soon.

Plus, we will give visitors the all-important lowdown on the 2025/26 potato crop and how it could affect you in the year ahead with a trip out to see the crop for yourselves. Our featured farmer this year is once again (Dr) Michael Neaverson from Neaverson Growers Ltd. Michael will give the room an honest assessment of the potato crop for the year ahead.

For lunch visitors will be served fish and chips. With lovely Norwegian cod/haddock supplied

by Smales and Seafood from Norway. The chips will be made from new varieties including Babylon and will give them one of their biggest tests yet with over 100 guests all queueing up to try them. McWhinney’s will be there to serve their best in Europe sausages

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plus there will be free teas and coffee with homemade cake too. With more suppliers to be added.

In the Evening over 50 stayed in Ely and headed out for a meal and a few beers in 2024. It is always good to reserve your hotel rooms in Ely for this early.

Thanks again to last year’s sponsors. This open day put on by the Boutwood family and Isle of Ely Produce is a big investment for this industry. Any other suppliers who would like to sponsor/present and/or have a stand on the day please email austen@ chippychat.co.uk If you would like to attend as a frier or supplier and want details of please in the first instance email austen@chippychat. co.uk and we will send you the link for FREE tickets Places at the open day are at a premium but thanks to the sponsors still FREE. Have you been to a previous open day?

Let us know your thoughts – email austen@ chippychat.co.uk

2024 Sponsors

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

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The Bay City We stayed at The Bay Gardens Hotel to discover the delights of St Lucia

By Austen Dack

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t. Lucia offers a diverse range of attractions, from the iconic Pitons to pristine beaches and lush rainforests. Highlights include exploring the Pigeon Island National Park, hiking to the summit of Gros Piton, and immersing yourself in the natural beauty of Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens & Mineral Baths.

Of course, I also found the locals version of fish and chips.

We (wife Sarah, with friends Iain and Sue) travelled with British Airways holidays via a direct flight of around nine hours from Gatwick Airport. Our home was to be at the Bay Gardens Hotel, Rodney Bay, with facility and food and drink access to their three other sister hotels too. The hotel was cozy, served acceptable all-inclusive food and had many lovely friendly staff including Cindy, Helena and most importantly bar managers Terry and Quincy!

The hotel, which is close to Rodney Bay Marina, boasts comfortable (but modest) accommodation with three pools and a restaurant and bar area.

Guests also receive unlimited day passes to the Splash Island Water Park next to the beach resort and free access to a

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range of non-motorised water sports.

Our wonderful host for our trips was island guru Nio Rosserie. Our first trip we embarked on an unforgettable catamaran tour, where we indulged in beach hopping, snorkelling in pristine waters, with delicious variety of food and their famous rum punch, and Pitons (the local beer). Our destination was Sugar Beach, where the soft, sugary sands meet the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea with two iconic volcanic spires known as the Pitons, providing a dramatic backdrop as you swim or bask under the sun.

We also took an adventure via boat and taxi to the rejuvenating mud baths and the majestic waterfall. The mud baths in St. Lucia’s Sulphur Springs are naturally heated by geothermal energy and can reach temperatures between 36-40 degrees Celsius (96-104 degrees Fahrenheit). On the day we discovered the perfect blend of relaxation and excitement amidst the stunning beauty of the island paradise. Located minutes from Soufriere,Toraille is one of St. Lucia’s most popular waterfalls. Beloved by locals and travellers alike, the 50-foot drop of the water at this waterfall feels almost like a strong massage when it hits the body.

Nio’s second trip for us was to take a tram ride at the Rain Forest. Marvelling at nature in all its glory in the comfort of Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

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Rollers! your aerial gondola. A truly magnificent view of the island’s rainforest unfolds as you glide along above giant trees that provide food and beverage for many exotic birds and animals that inhabit the rainforest. This is an island must do.

I was to finally get my St Lucian version of fish & chips at the Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa Hotel just off the beach.

Served in their very own home-made local beer batter (which was light and crispy) was a lovely portion of Kingfish freshly caught that morning. Kingfish are known for their excellent flavour and thick, white fillets, making them a popular food fish, and are a perfect choice for a fish supper.

Served with fries, tartare sauce and salad, the head chef waited with bated breath for me to score his Caribbean fayre!

Whilst the chips were fries, I couldn’t fault the fish and batter and happily gave him 8/10. Who knows maybe we could get some shops to try Kingfish here in the UK? Our St Lucian adventure was over too soon. Thanks to Sarah Iain and Sue Hubbard for their excellent company Nio for her excellent guidance and to new friends Steven and Kay for making the evenings even more special.

To contact Nio for St Lucian tours visit www.lucianexplora.com British Airways www.britishairways.com 35

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Fryitghtfully Fry It 2025 – We sampled Babylon!

By Austen Dack

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his year the brilliant Friar’s Pride Fry It! 2025 returned to the midlands and was better than ever! Over 70 exhibitors turned up to NAEC Stoneleigh recently to showcase their products and services to Friars Pride customers and the Fish & Chip Industry as a whole.

C u s to m e r s a t te n d i n g F r y I t ! 2 0 2 5 where treated to a range of food samples, entertainment and advice from industry leaders during the daylong event as well as it being a great opportunity for networking and support.

Suppliers for packaging, oils & fats, frozen at sea fish, equipment, frying ranges and frozen foods flocked in from across the UK and Europe to attend the Kenilworth trade show. The event was well attended by chip shop owners from across England as well as attracting interest from potential new shop owners and suppliers.

Here at Chippy Chat & Isle of Ely Produce, we were once again out in force this time sampling the new Agrico chipping variety Babylon to the thousands who turned out

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on the day. We were ably assisted by Kevin Thomas from leading dripping supplier Duncrue, who was on hand to actually fry Babylon for chippy owners on the day. The chips were supplied by Isle of Ely Produce via PG Chips of Bury who process the best pre-prepped chips in the North West of the UK. Kevin Thomas said: “We fried Babylon today at Fry It and they tasted really good.

They fried well looked great and had a great colour.“ Babylon were tried by hundreds of shops at the show and also crucially by lots of other suppliers to the trade.

Spencer Gray who owns No 1 Cromer said.

“It was great to try Babylon again. At No 1 Cromer we serve many thousands of chip portions a week, and It’s good to know that a new variety like Babylon is now ready to produce the consistent great chips we need in order to stay amongst the Top 10 Restaurants in the country.”

Isle of Ely Produce have been promoting a Chip Ambassador role to promote the great British Chip in association with Agrico. The aim will be to carry on and extend the good

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Good! work promoting chipping potatoes at their hugely successful open days, and through the ‘Field to Frier’ award.

The Chip Ambassadors have become part of an UK wide group of shop owners and fryers who will promote best practice for potato buying, storing, and of course frying.

Oliver Boutwood Isle of Ely Produce Director said. “It was great for us to be at Fry it 2025 trialling Babylon via Duncrue and PG Chips. It is important for shops all over the UK to try Babylon and see the gains that it has made as a variety.

Alex Moore National Sales Manager for Agrico says: “It is nice to see Babylon going on tour and be tried by so many shops. We were very happy to see the variety at these shows and get the same positive results.”

Here at Chippy Chat we would like to send a massive thanks to all Friars Pride staff and management for putting on the show! We also thank them for using Chippy Chat as part of their marketing platform for the show.

If you would like to try Babylon and become a chip ambassador, please email austen@ chippychat.co.uk

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The Knight Riders!

Salt, Steam & Spirit: The Five-Generation Story of Knights Fish Restaurant

By George Morey

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here’s something magical about the smell of chips frying, the sharp tang of vinegar in the air, and the gentle clatter of cutlery as a customer tucks in. But here in Glastonbury, when you walk into Knights, you’re stepping into more than just a fish and chip shop — you’re stepping into 115 years of love, grit, tradition, and family.

My name is George, and I’m the proud fifth-generation manager of Knights Fish Restaurant. I grew up listening to stories, watching my family and grandparents give everything they had to this place.

And now it’s my turn to keep the fire (or fryer!) burning.

The Beginning – A Woman and a new concept.

It all started in 1895, when Elizabeth Hockey was frying fish from her home at 5 Northload Street. Fish and chips were still a novelty back then — there was no name above the door, just the smell of fried fish and a reputation that started to grow.

Across the street lived Louisa “Mary” Phillis, my great-great-grandmother, who eventually began working with Elizabeth and later took over the business in 1909.

Mary passed the reins to her daughter Louie, who married Frank Knight — and just like that, Knights was born. Louie was famous for her handmade faggots.

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People would queue with their china dishes to stock up — a tradition that might seem quaint today, but back then, it was a lifeline for hungry families.

Through War and Hard Times – The Strength of Family During the war, fish and chips weren’t just popular — they were essential.

Unrationed, hot, and filling, they were one of the few comforts left. My grandfather, William Knight, remembered it vividly: soldiers lining up in uniform, the coalfired range roaring, and him as a small boy, falling asleep in a cupboard on a stack of newspapers used for wrapping.

The Call That Broke Us All When we won the 2024 National Fish and Chip Restaurant of the Year award — a dream we’d quietly carried for years — the very first thing Mum and I did was call my grandfather. He was in hospital, very unwell, and we didn’t even know if he’d answer.

My Auntie picked up the phone. Her eyes were already full of tears as she switched it to video. “You need to tell him,” she said. She passed the phone to Grandad. Mum took a breath, her voice shaking. “Dad… we did it. We won.”

His bottom lip started trembling. Then, with the smallest, softest voice, he said, “I’m so proud of you both.”

This from a man who rarely spoke his feelings — who gave a quiet kind of love,

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always steady, always there, but never loud. That moment… I’ll never forget it. We were all crying. All five generations in that one second — everything we had worked for, everything he had built, everything he had taught us — it was all there in that trembling voice. He’s gone now. And some days, it feels unbearable. But that moment — seeing his lip tremble, hearing him say he was proud — it’s seared into me. It broke me and healed me all at once.

I cling to it. I’d trade the world just to hear him say it again.

Homemade, Heartmade At Knights, we’ve always done things the hard way — because the hard way is the right way. We still make our fishcakes by hand every morning. Our tartare sauce is mixed fresh with chopped herbs, pickles, and care. Our onion rings hand-cut, fresh crispy and golden. We don’t believe in shortcuts. We believe in flavour. We believe in honesty.

We offer a wide selection of responsibly sourced fresh fish — not just cod and haddock, but also plaice, lemon sole, hake, whiting, saithe, monkfish, and more.

We’re proud to support the British fishing industry and to celebrate the incredible diversity of our seas. We work closely with our suppliers to ensure sustainability, helping to protect the waters that have fed us for over a century.

through world wars and lockdowns. The least we can do is stand by them, too.

The Future is Family We’ve invested in modern equipment, like our new Kiremko frying range, which allows us to cook cleaner, faster, and more sustainably. We’ve expanded our menu to cater to dietary needs and food allergies. And we’re training the sixth generation — teaching them that success isn’t in the sales, it’s in the stories.

Some days, when the shop is quiet and the sun is filtering through the windows just right, I stop and listen. I like to imagine I can hear them — Mary, Louie, Frank, Bill — still working in the back, still peeling spuds, still laughing at something we’ve long forgotten.

From Our Family to Yours Knights isn’t just somewhere you grab a bite. It’s where memories live. Where love comes wrapped in paper — steaming, golden, and made by hands that remember.

Thank you for being part of our story.

115 years strong, and every moment has meant the world. Here’s to the next 115 — with heart, with history, and with you. www.knightsfishrestaurant.com

Community Isn’t Just a Word — It’s Our Soul We’ve donated meals to frontline workers, supported charities, sponsored school projects, and given back whenever we could. This community has stood by us

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Cols to Newcastle!

Colmans A-lister approved restaurant opens in Newcastle

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n award-winning staple of the North East’s famous fish and chip scene is celebrating the best possible start to life north of the Tyne — following a bold expansion beyond the business’s South Tyneside heartland.

Colmans Fish & Chips opened its first Newcastle restaurant recently following a six-figure investment that positioned the popular brand inside the city’s prestigious Fenwick department store.

“We’ve already created 20 jobs at our new restaurant and we’re actively recruiting more staff to meet demand,” explains Richard Colman, Director at Colmans Fish & Chips. The first few weeks in Newcastle have been fantastic and have far exceeded our expectations.

We worked long and hard to recreate the feel of a traditional fish and chip restaurant

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within one of the UK’s most famous department stores and that hard work is paying off.

We were determined to invest in what we’re confident will be a genuinely positive addition to Newcastle’s hospitality sector.

Every aspect of the fit-out — including our signature ‘story wall’ and gallery of famous patrons — was carefully planned and, as a family, we were very hands on when it came to pulling everything together.

Another important consideration was the price point. Customers in Newcastle are paying the same for their fish and chips as our customers in South Shields and there was never any talk of a premium price simply because we were opening up a brand-new place to eat in a busy city centre.”

Colmans’ Newcastle launch saw a slew of celebrities from the world of sport and entertainment tuck into the family’s classic fish and chips with sides of mushy peas and curry sauce.

Comedian Chris Ramsey rubbed shoulders

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with ex-England cricketer Ryan Sidebottom while Steph McGovern caught up with former athletes Steve Cram and Alison Curbishley — with all five regular visitors to Colmans’ brace of South Shields restaurants.

Kieran McBride, Store Director at Fenwick, added “We are delighted to partner with fellow North East founded family brand Colmans to launch Colmans Fish & Chips at Fenwick. If you’re looking for the best fish and chips in the region then look no further.”

Moving north of the Tyne for the first time represents a bold move by Richard, brother Dominic and their team of trusted colleagues.

“We’re already a regional favourite but it’s great to take our fish and chips into the city centre and make our menu more accessible for people who wouldn’t necessarily come to South Shields as much,” added Richard.

“It’s a great opportunity but it’s been a steep learning curve. We always knew that opening up our first restaurant outside of South Tyneside, in a prime Newcastle city centre location, would be a culture shock.”

“Fish and chips fried traditionally is the focus. We know what we do well and don’t intend to veer too far from that! Of course, you might go to a fish and chip shop but fancy a battered sausage too. We understand that so we’ve taken those elements and made them into cool, trendy sides. We’ve partnered with local independents like Geordie Bangers for a bespoke battered sausage and Chris Eagle at Great North Provisions for a really good pie. We also have some great grilled and gluten free options too for those who aren’t feeling the fried choices.”

Ahead of the new opening Austen Dack Chippy Chat Editor and Isle of Ely Produce director Oliver Boutwood took timeout to drop in on Colman’s flagship shop on Ocean Road in South Shields.

They were in Newcastle for the Colbeck What’s Cooking Show and paid a visit to toast the new Fenwick store and talk to Richard Ord Sr about how things are going in the industry in general.

Austen said “It was so good to visit

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Colman’s at Ocean Road. To see for yourself how an elite operator conducts themselves is invaluable. The food and ambience are second to none, and their people are all so good. I certainly advise anyone in the industry to visit and see for themselves what it takes to deliver such high standards. Good Luck to all concerned with the new venture in Fenwicks, although I’m sure they don’t need it.” www.colmansfishandchips.co.uk

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Cods to Speak About!

Gadus - A Historic Faroese Moment in the House of Commons

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he moment was both historic and sublime when JFK in Klaksvik hosted a grand reception at The Speakers House in the House of Commons. Which was held on the eve of the National Fish and Chip Awards 2025.

A total of 150 guests were present when Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of Parliament, took to the podium and welcomed the guests to an event organised by JFK, and the NFFF and FASFA to the House of Commons.

This is probably the first time that a dedicated Faroese event has been held at this historic site in the Parliament building.

In addition to the Speaker of Parliament, a number of Members of Parliament were also present, as well as a number of key figures in the UK Seafood industries.

Jógvan Hansen, Sales and Marketing Director, also gave a speech in which he thanked the Speaker of Parliament for the opportunity to host in this historic venue.

He referred to the strong ties that were forged between the Faroe Islands and the United Kingdom during World War II, and which are just as strong today. JFK has been selling fish to the UK for more than a hundred years.

A film was also shown that told the story of how the Faroese sailed to Britain with fish during the war, and how this helped to ensure that fish and chips were one of

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

the few products that were not rationed.

Strong stood the words of Winston Churchill; “Let us never forget the Faroe Islands whose fish helped feed us during the Atlantic blockings and at such great sacrifice.”

Rupert Howes, chief executive of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) also delivered a speech. In addition to being the director of the MSC, Rupert Howes is an award-winning environmental researcher, and he commends JFK for their work in delivering fish that meet international standards.

After the film, Lena Anderssen performed three songs and even got the Chairman of Parliament to sing along. All the guests went away with their own gift bags, which included a film with the story of Gadus in it, and also a special package from Føroya Øl, which was very popular among the guests.

Jógvan Hansen said after the event that JFK has put a lot of effort into making this event a success, and he is pleased that the reception was as spectacular as it was. “The British market is a key market for us. This was a truly unique occasion and we couldn’t have dreamed of a better reception than the one we received this evening.”

The Faroese event in the House of Commons was a traditional reception ahead of the “National Fish & Chip Awards 2025”.

To order from JFK Gadus visit jfk.fo Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

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GREAT GADUS

The new GADUS has been constructed with great care to ensure high quality products based on the positive feed-back from our UK chip shop customers.

We have over 100 years of fishing experience, and best practice too.

Steps are taken at every juncture of the fishing process to ensure that JFK’s frozen-at-sea products are as fresh as possible. Frozen-at-sea has been called “fresher than fresh,” because within four hours from leaving the sea the fish is processed and frozen, locking in goodness perfect for your customers.

JFK’s purpose is to work in harmony with the environment and to promote sustainable utilization of the fish stocks.

ASK YOUR FISH SUPPLIER FOR FAS GADUS TODAY.

Read more about our certifications on www.jfk.fo 43

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

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Sizzle Up

Your Life with Our Sausages!

For our full range email info@mcwhinneys.com

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www.mcwhinneys.com

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • May 2025

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