As the saying goes, today’s news is tomorrow’s fish and chip paper – but in this instance, it would be an honour to be the wrapping for the four Greater Manchester chippies that have been crowned among the best in the UK.
It is the first time ever any chippy in our great boroughs have been named on the top 50 list (I know – we were shocked too) but it is a proud moment.
Sykes, on Bolton Road, Pendlebury, Salford, The Little Chippy in Tyldesley, Manchester, Chips @ No.8 in Prestwich, Manchester and The Fish at Goose Green in Wigan have all made it on to Fry Magazine’s Top 50 list, one of the most prestigious awards in the fast-food industry.
To make it on the list – there is a menu of more than 40 criteria to be judged on by mystery shoppers from food quality including the flakiness of the fish, crunch on the batter, and the crispness of the chips, alongside value for money, as well as customer service, social media presence and Covid safety measures.
And this year it is an even bigger achievement as Fry Magazine said the pass rate benchmark was set at 97 per cent, the highest in its history.
Reece Head, the competition organiser, said: “Without doubt, the last 12 months have been tough for fish and chip operators and many will not have dealt with this level of crisis management before.
“Allowed to operate during the pandemic, there was a lot they had to implement in a very short space of time to operate in a Covid safe manner. Many takeaways had to flip their businesses to click and collect and delivery, serve at the door, introduce card payments and work in much smaller teams. Likewise, mobile units introduced pre-orders and added new routes and additional vans to keep the nation fed.
“During a time of uncertainty, these operators have helped maintain a sense of normality. They’ve been at the heart of their communities, with a smile on their faces and hot food in their hands. And the fact that we’ve had our highest pass mark ever is testament to their hard work and dedication, and we would like to congratulate each and everyone.”
