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Top UK Chippies Celebrated as Industry Issues Warning Over Cod Prices

Industry warns rising cod costs plus heavy reliance on imported fish threaten takeaways, urging customers to choose UK-caught species

Overview

  • The Scrap Box in Dunnington, York, was named Takeaway of the Year at the 2026 National Fish & Chip Awards and featured widely during National Fish & Chip Day on Friday, June 5.
  • The Fry Awards published a top-50 list of takeaways this week and Simply Sea Views ranked Hunstanton the nation's best seaside town for fish and chips, driving local tourism interest.
  • Industry bodies and shop owners say cod and haddock price inflation is squeezing margins, with reports of cod up roughly 200% over two years and about 1,500 shop closures reported in recent years.
  • Trade groups point to import dependence as a core risk, citing that the UK exports much of its catch while importing most of what it eats, and are urging menus to feature UK-caught species such as hake, coley and monkfish.
  • Shops marked National Fish & Chip Day with promotions and giveaways, and industry leaders say greater customer willingness to try British species could help protect coastal jobs and reduce supply volatility.