The Fry Awards has announced the best fish and chip takeaways across the UK and some are right here in the North West.
For the past three months, people with arguably the best job in the world have secretly dined at each outlet in the running.
They’re assessing 40 aspects of the business, including everything from the quality of fish and chips and staff presentation to front-of-house hygiene and customer service.
The food remains the main focus, including ratings of the flakiness of the fish, crispiness of chips, crunch of batter and value for money.
The takeaways tested needed to hit a 96% pass rate of the assessed factors, much higher than any previous years so you know they’ll all be incredible chippies.
The Fish at Goose Green/Facebook
Reece Head, competition organiser, comments: “Announcing our award winners couldn’t come at a better time. The industry is going through a stage of uncertainty with coronavirus impacting the lives and incomes of thousands of shops and owners.
“This is just the news we need to lift the industry so that those that are still trading can tell their customers immediately, while those that are closed have something exciting to shout about when their doors open again.
“Our award winners are all at the top of their game and are moving with the times, embracing technology such as contactless payments, online ordering, and click and collect and delivery while still ensuring the food they are serving is top quality and the customer service is second to none.”
The Fish at Goose Green/Facebook
And the Greater Manchester borough that has managed to bag itself one of the top spots might be good at pies, but it turns out it’s also really good at fish and chips too…
Coming in the 50 Best Fish and Chip Takeaways is The Fish at Goose Green, on Clapgate Lane in Wigan!
It’s well loved by fans with a solid 4.8 out of 5 rating on Facebook and plenty of supportive customers.
One customer wrote ‘without a doubt best chippy in Wigan’ five weeks ago, and it turns out they’re not wrong!
The Fish at Goose Green/Facebook
There are a few other North West chippies topping the list too, including The Codfather on Manchester Road in Northwich, The Fish Bar in Crewe, and Fylde Fish Bar in Southport.
See the full list below:
Auckley Friery, Auckley, South Yorkshire
Bishopston Fish Bar, Horfield, Bristol
Callaways Fish & Chips, Dorchester, West Dorset
Captain’s Traditional Fish & Chips, Harrow, London
Chish and Fips, Norwich, Norfolk
East Coast, Musselburgh, East Lothian
Drakes, Babbacombe, Torquay, Devon
Fiddlers Elbow Fish & Chips, Leintwardine, Herefordshire
Finn’s Traditional Fish and Chips, Reading, Berkshire
Fish ‘n’ Fritz, Weymouth, Dorset
Fishtastic, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
Fochabers, Fochabers, Moray
Frydales of Syston, Syston, Leicester
Frydays of Kendal, Kendal , Cumbria
Fylde Fish Bar, Marshside, Southport, Lancashire
Hiks, Brynhyfryd, Swansea, Glamorgan
Hill Top Village Fisheries, Huddersfield, Yorkshire
Hirds Family Fisheries, Halifax, West Yorkshire
Hooked@31, Fishguard, Pembrokeshire
Land & Sea, Sowerby, York, North Yorkshire
Market Hill Fisheries, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire
Middleton In Teesdale Fish & Chip Shop, Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham
Mister C’s, Fulford, North Yorkshire
Mister C’s, Selby, North Yorkshire,
My Plaice Fish & Chips, Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk
Oysters Fish & Chips, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Penaluna’s Famous Fish & Chips, Hirwaun, Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf
Plattens Fish and Chips, Wells-Next-The-Sea, Norfolk
Priory Plaice Fish and Chips, Ulverston, Cumbria
Proper Fish & Chip Co, Exmouth, Devon
Redcloak Fish and Chips, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire
Robinson’s Traditional Fish & Chips, Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham
Sandgate Friery, Penrith, Cumbria
Scott’s Plaice, Gosport, Hampshire
Smith’s Chippy, South Shields, Tyne & Wear
The Chip Club, Kingston-Upon-Thames, London
The Codfather, Manchester Road, Cheshire
The Cod’s Scallops, Bramcote Lane, Nottingham
The Esk Cafe , Carlisle, Cumbria
The Fish at Goose Green, Wigan, Lancashire
The Fish Bar, Crewe, Cheshire
The Fish Works, Largs, North Ayrshire
The Friary, Carrickfergus, County Antrim
The Magpie Café, Whitby, North Yorkshire
The Plaice To Be, Kilmarnock, Troon, South Ayrshire
The Real Food Café, Tyndrum, Perthshire
Topcatch Fish and Chips, Southampton, Hampshire
Towngate Fisheries, Idle, Bradford, West Yorkshire
Valerios Fish and Chips, Lanark, South Lanarkshire
Wetherby Whaler, Wetherby, West Yorkshire
Wollaston Fish Bar, Wollaston, Stourbridge, West Midlands
Bookings are now open for Gordon Ramsay’s highly anticipated 1930s Tokyo-inspired restaurant in Manchester.
Michelin-starred celebrity chef and restaurateur Gordon Ramsay is thrilled to announce the grand opening of Lucky Cat, in Manchester, on Thursday June 1st.
This marks the first major opening for Ramsay in the city and the second Lucky Cat worldwide, further cementing the region’s reputation as a leading destination for food, drink, and entertainment.
Reservations are now open ready for the Japanese-inspired restaurant’s June debut — which will offer an unrivalled dining experience at the top of King Street.
@luckycatbygordonramsay / Instagram
The Manchester location promises to be a dining experience like no other, capturing the essence of the original Mayfair eatery in the very heart of the city in a truly iconic building —the old HSBC Bank and former home of fellow celebrity chef venture Jamie’s Italian.
Situated at the top of King Street with its upmarket retailers and designer stores, the venue resides within a breath-taking and fitting Art Deco building, standing majestically alongside Manchester’s iconic Gotham Hotel.
The restaurant spans three floors — meaning the building’s famous Bank Vault will be in use once again — and features opulent dining vaults, paying homage to the building’s heritage while offering a dining experience like no other to the city of Manchester.
@luckycatbygordonramsay / Instagram
In addition to the main restaurant, there are also extensive private dining spaces and private bars to elevate every event.
Lucky Cat masterfully fuses the vibrant atmosphere of 1930s Tokyo kissas and drinking dens. Diners can expect the ultimate dining experience, complete with world class wines and cocktails, and live DJ sets.
Embark on a gastronomic journey of culinary icons, such as succulent black cod, sumptuous sirloin weeping tiger and the legendary Lucky Cat Duck Bao. Journey onward to the ocean’s depths with sublime sushi and raw dishes, from tuna tartar to mouth-watering dragon rolls.
@luckycatbygordonramsay / Instagram
An innovative cocktail list includes the one-of-a-kind Lucky Negroni, where the gin in your drink is determined by a captivating game of chance.
With three dice hidden inside a mysterious box, the numbers rolled will unlock the perfect combination of gins, vermouths, and bitters destined for your drink. With a staggering 216 possible combinations, each Lucky Negroni will be a personalised, exhilarating experience, crafted by fate itself.
Gordon Ramsay shares his unbridled enthusiasm for the project, with a nod to Manchester’s vibrant dining scene, saying: “I’ve toured and worked in much of Asia over the years, and the culture, the flavours, and the incredible cooking truly inspire me.
@luckycatbygordonramsay / Instagram
“Manchester is renowned for its thriving culinary landscape, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.
“We’re fired up to build on the phenomenal success of our Mayfair restaurant and bring something truly exceptional to the people of Manchester this Summer. I can’t wait for Lucky Cat to make its mark in this fantastic city!”
Book now to be among the first to experience this world-class dining destination — tables are expected to fill up fast.
Bookings can be made on thewebsite or call 0161 424 9150 for restaurant and group reservations, or 0207 5921373 for private dining and event enquiries.
McDonald’s has launched a new menu range including four top tier limited edition dips.
The fast food giant has announced an impressive new menu to come as we sadly wave goodbye to the Chicken Big Mac — for now.
The chain’s brand spanking new range of mouth watering food items will feature the return of an old favourite with the option of its spicy counterpart, as well as some tasty new dips fans have long been waiting for.
The Big Tasty is coming back as well as the Big Tasty with Bacon, and a new addition set to make your taste buds tingle…the Spicy Big Tasty.
McDonald’s
Just like the original, the Spicy Big Tasty will be made with a 100% beef patty, Emmental cheese, lettuce, tomato, bacon and Big Tasty sauce, with a ‘jalapeño twist’.
But the burgers aren’t the only exciting new addition to the menu.
We’ve all been banging on about sauce flavour suggestions and it seems McDonald’s has been listening.
As our beloved McNuggets turn 40 this year, to celebrate a whopping four decades, Maccies is offering four limited edition dips that will land throughout the month.
McDonald’s
From May 10th, you’ll be able to get your hands on a fiery Mega Hot Sauce dip, as well as a long-awaited new Garlic Mayo, which promises a ‘delicious creamy garlic flavour’.
The franchise says that fans have been asking for a Garlic Mayo since forever — so, if you’ve ever needed an excuse to treat yourself to a cheeky box of nugs, now’s your chance.
Then, on May 31st, you’ll be able to grab a new smokey and spicy Chipotle Mayo as well as an American favourite, Creamy Ranch dip — which McDonald’s call ‘the best thing to come from across the pond’.
The sauces will be available for a mystery length of time, ‘until stocks last’.
McDonald’s
McDonald’s released the iconic McNugget back in 1979. It was an instant hit that the chain couldn’t keep up with demand.
Chef René Arend, who perfected the McNugget, revealed that McDonald’s couldn’t actually supply that much chicken. By 1983, this was fixed — and the McNugget was officially born.
The chain makes our beloved nugs in four shapes: the bell, the bow-tie, the ball and the boot.
And if that’s not enough, there’s more exciting items coming our way. Everyone’s favourite sidekick, Halloumi Fries, are also making a comeback.
Mc Donald’s
For those who have never had the pleasure, it’s a portion of ‘four delicious halloumi cheese sticks coated in a light batter, served with a rich tomato dip’.
That’s all the savoury items, now for something sweet. Fans of the food can also expect to find old classics, Wispa and Wispa Gold McFlurrys.
These are made up of ‘soft dairy ice cream, swirled with Wispa chocolate pieces and a chocolate sauce’, and ‘soft dairy ice cream with Wispa chocolate pieces and a Cadbury caramel sauce’.
There’s now a dreamy drive-thru cakery in Greater Manchester — yes, that’s right.
Wonderlust Bistro and Bakery on Library Lane, Oldham, first opened in February and is a real family affair headed by baker, Saarah Chowdry, brother Mohammed and mum Shelley Rahman.
Their incredible decadent sweet treats and bakes are to die for and have been sending locals wild as they harp on about this little Oldham gem.
Even The Oldham Times has said it could ‘rival any Manchester bistro’. It’s hard to miss this slice of heaven with its bright pink exterior with purple hues and dreamy clouds offering a piece of paradise for hungry visitors.
@wonderlust_bistro_ / Instagram
This wonderland offers a mouth-watering menu too. Not only is it filled with all things sweet and cake-like, it also offers bistro dishes ranging from roast dinners, to corn dogs, fry-ups, pancake stacks and more.
The demand for their treats has rocketed to the point that the team has recently launched its own ‘car service’. This means that visitors can easily pull up, place an order and have their gooey goodies brought directly to them.
With its opening times from 5pm until midnight, this is definitely the place to go for a cheeky late-night treat.
@wonderlust_bistro_ / Instagram
It’s a paradise for those with a sweet tooth who can choose from anything ranging from Jammy Dodger and Kinder Hippo cupcakes, Biscoff-stuffed cheesecake, milk cake, Snickers brownies and Nutella-filled cookies, all on offer from the bakery.
Here’s how to take advantage of the bakery’s new cake-to-car service: Those driving in for the car service are asked to park in the bakery and bistro’s rear car park.
Sharing the update in an Instagram post, the Wonderlust team wrote: “Due to overwhelming demand, we are introducing our car service for Wonderlust Bistro & Wonderlust Bakery! You can place your order via 07531557354 for food, cakes & drinks.