If you’ve been on tenterhooks waiting to hear which chippy has been crowned the king at the National Fish & Chip Awards 2020, you’ll be delighted to discover that The Cod’s Scallops in Wollaton, Nottingham received the prestigious honour at a ceremony held in London yesterday.
Beating out other brilliant chippies such as Shap Chippy in Penrith, Cumbria, which placed second, and Fish & Chips at Weston Grove in Chester, Cheshire, which came in at third, despite being situated 80 miles from the coast, judges found the overall quality of the fish and chips on offer, the exceptional customer service, and the restaurant’s responsible sourcing practices a winning combination which was enough for this landlocked fish and chip shop to swim past its coastal rivals.
Owned by husband and wife team John and Helen Molnar, The Cod’s Scallops impressed the team at Seafish, a non-department public body set up by the Fisheries Act 1981 to improve efficiency and raise standards across the seafood industry, over an intensive eight-month judging process, which included multiple mystery shop visits and a final presentation to a panel of experts.
Judged on a number of factors that include sustainability, menu innovation, marketing activity, and how well the restaurant caters to special dietary requirements, winning this coveted honour in the past has led to previous winners doubling their turnover in the year following the announcement.
Clearly not your average chippy, The Cod’s Scallops is a local favourite, in part thanks to serving the likes of oysters, whole lobsters, and a selection of fine wines. The menu at this award-winning chippy also includes the likes of shellfish, pies, barista-style coffee, and seaside-inspired cocktails. Offering diners the chance to choose from over 20 species of fish, all cooked fresh-to-order, the restaurant is so proud of the freshness of their produce that their website claims their “fish is so fresh, tomorrow’s tea is still in the sea”.
Owner John Molnar, who has 30 years chef and business experience, set up the restaurant as he wanted to, in his own words, “showcase and serve up the best fish being caught around our isles in a fun and family-friendly environment”.
Just one of 16 awards presented to fish and chip shops across the country at yesterday’s ceremony in London, keep on reading to see all the winners below.
Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Award
Winner: The Cod’s Scallops, Wollaton, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
2nd place: Shap Chippy, Shap, Penrith, Cumbria
3rd place: Fish & Chips at Weston Grove, Chester, Cheshire Best Fish and Chip Restaurant Award: Trenchers Restaurant, Spanish City, Whitley Bay
Best Newcomer Award: Lewis’s Fish & Grill, Maidstone, Kent
NFFF Quality Award Champion: The Real Food Café, Tydrum, Stirlingshire
Best Seafood Week Campaign Award: Penaluna’s Famous Fish & Chips, Hirwaun, Aberdare
Best Foodservice Operator Award: Mary Lambert Artisan Bakery, Hartlepool, County Durham
Menu Development and Innovation Award: Fish City Belfast, Belfast
Marketing Innovation Award: Shap Chippy, Shap, Penrith
From Field to Frier Award: Fish & Chips @ Weston Grove, Upton, Chester
Good Catch Award: Fish & Chips @ Weston Grove, Upton, Chester
Staff Training and Development Award: The Wetherby Whaler, Yorkshire
Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year: Charlie Collins, Frydales, Leicester, Leicestershire
Best Mobile Operator Award: The English Indian, Lichfield, Staffordshire
Best Multiple Operator Award: Sutton & Sons, London
Seasonal UK Seafood Award: Something Else Fishy, Milborne Port, Sherborne
Outstanding Achievement Award: Richard Ord, Colmans of South Shields, Tyne and Wear
