][1]For the third year in a row, a Scottish chip shop has won the UK Fish & Chip Shop of the Year competition, organised by Seafish, the authority on seafood.
The Atlantic Fast Food chippy in Coatbridge, Glasgow scooped first place at this year’s competition. Owner Giovanni Fionda was especially chuffed as this was the first time that he had entered the competition.
Giovanni said: __“To win this competition as a first time entrant is a dream come true. It’s the best thing to have happened to us in our professional life and has made all the hard work worth it. We’ve worked in the fish and chips business for many years and it’s always been great fun. Our team are extremely hard working and it’s thanks to them and our loyal customers that we are taking home this trophy.”
Giovanni was crowned champion after a rigorous judging process which included a customer vote, taste tests, two intense rounds of shop inspections and a presentation to a panel of industry experts.
The Atlantic joins a long list of Scottish champions. In the twenty-two years that the competition has run, Scottish chips shops have won it seven times. The triumph of the Coatbridge chippy makes a recent hat-trick for Scottish fish friers. The Townhead in Biggar won the trophy last year and the Anstruther Fish Bar took home the swag the year before.
Seafish reckons that this is the 150th anniversary of fish ‘n’ chips in Britain. The Independent celebrated the fact with 150 chippy factoids. It’s a fun read, especially with a fish supper, large chips and pickled onion by your side.