White flaky fish in a crispy golden batter and a side of perfectly fluffy chips – it’s a British classic that never disappoints. There are thousands of fish and chip shops across the UK, and the National Fish and Chip Awards aims to celebrate the very best in the country. A long list of the top 40 chippies has been announced, with each battling to receive the prized title of Takeaway Of The Year.Each establishment will now undergo extensive evaluation including their product quality, hygiene, environmental and operational sustainability, customer service, and industry knowledge and more.Only 20 will then make it to the semi-finals before the top ten are selected and the winner announced on February 24.Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers, which runs the awards, said: ‘As we celebrate the 39th year of the National Fish & Chip Awards, it’s brilliant to see talent, passion, excellent professionalism and dedication to their craft on display. Fish! Kitchen, based in Borough Market, has made the list Grosvenor Fish Bar in Norfolk also made the top 40’Every year, the Takeaway of the Year standard continues to rise and this new list of top 40 contenders exemplifies that.’He continued: ‘This year we are particularly keen to shine a light on the opportunities our industry offers, from developing lifelong skills to fulfilling dreams of running a successful business.”Good luck to everyone who makes it through to the next stage, and we can’t wait to see the results next February at the awards,’ Mr Crook added.The Scrap Box in York took home the prestigious title during the last awards, and co-owner Aman Dhesi revealed the difference it has made to the restaurant after just six months.’It gave the business a huge boost, as did reaching the top 10 the year before but probably the biggest thing has been the opportunities it’s opened up for us outside the shop, from media and travel to meeting people across the industry and getting involved in some really exciting projects,’ the fish and chip business owner said. The Top 40 Fish and Chip shops: Column Column Bishopston Fish Bar Bristol Jolly Fryer Bristol Chippies Plaice Newton Abbot, Devon Taffs Fish and Chips Torrington, Devon Somewhere Else Fishy Sherborne, Dorset The Hook of Halstead Essex Taylor’s Stockport Berties New Milton, Hampshire Best Fry Southampton Mike’s Traditional Fish and Chips Eastleigh Mister Pink’s Milford-on-Sea The Corner Plaice Rickmansworth The Cottage Blackpool Catch 22 Tattershall Linfords Fish and Chips Market Deeping Pips Chips Cleethorpes Chipping Wharf Fish & Chips Bow, London Fish! Kitchen Southwark, London Skipjacks Harrow, London The Good Catch (Freshfield) Liverpool Grosvenor Fish Bar Norwich Angell’s Fisheries Newark Harrison’s Fish & Chip Co. Oxford Knights Fish Restaurant Glastonbury Tulula’s Fish & Chips Halesworth The Hake Weybridge Seafare Guildford The Fish Bank Sherburn-in-Elmet Browns Award Winning Fish and Chips Belfast Merchant Fish and Chips Ballymena The Frying Squad (Balloo) Bangor McCann’s Fish & Chips Newcastle Garioch Fish Bar Inverurie Lows Traditional Fish & Chips (Westhill) Aberdeen Enzo’s Fish and Chips Irvine The Fish Works Largs Hilton Chip Shop Inverness Monster Fish & Chips Co. Fort Augustus Hennighan’s Fish & Chips Bottom Shop Machynlleth Farnhams Fish and Chips (Boverton) Llantwit Major