Living the fry life - firm wins top UK chippy title

From left, celebrity chef Richard Corrigan, Fish’n’Chick’n operations director Paul Goodgame, Martin Brown of awards sponsor Unique Seafood, Fish’n’Chick’n MD James Lipscombe, Norwegian fisheries minister Kristine Gramstad, Fish’n’Chick’n chairman Hugh Li

A FISH and chip shop chain based at Start Hill, near Bishop’s Stortford, battered its rivals at the National Fish and Chip Awards.

Fish’n’Chick’n – which has a branch at Thorley Park and 30 others stretching from Cambridge to Brighton – won the Best Multiple Fish and Chip Operator category at the event organised by Seafish.

Fish’n’Chick’n prevailed over The Frying Squad Ltd, of Northern Ireland, and The Ashvale Restaurant Ltd, of Scotland, at the grand final.

The annual award is open to fish and chip retailers with four or more outlets. Businesses are judged at both head office and on the shop floor, taking into account the standard of sustainability, commercial awareness and staff training levels.

Fish’n’Chick’n was started in 1971 by chairman Hugh Lipscombe and his brother Peter. They bought their first shop in Harlow, which remains one of the company’s best-performing branches.

Four years later they were joined by a third brother, Duncan, and set about turning their dream to build the most successful chain of fish and chip shops in England into reality.

In 2004 Peter and Duncan left to pursue other business interests, but the firm’s family flavour continues to this day as one of the directors is Hugh’s son James, a former pupil of Bishop’s Stortford College.

Martin Brown, director of distribution at Unique Seafood Ltd, said of Fish’n’Chick’n’s award success: “To run a single fish and chip shop to a high standard is indeed a lot of hard work. To replicate these highest standards across a whole chain while still expanding their operation is a fantastic achievement.

Hugh and James said: “We’re passionate about the quality of all the products we sell. We’ve been serving fish and chips for over 40 years and this award proves we’re still serving  the best fish and chips around!”