Three Norfolk fish and chip shops have been named among the top 50 in the country - while a fourth was listed in the top 10 mobile businesses.
The Fry Awards 2021, run by Fry Magazine, selected its top 50 shops and 10 mobile units after unannounced mystery diner visits, judging businesses on their food, customer service, social media presence and Covid practices.
Despite the challenges of coronavirus, judges said overall marks were the highest in the awards' history.
Locally, Chish and Fips on Angel Road in Norwich, Jason's Fish and Chips in Rackheath and My Plaice Fish and Chips in Gorleston were listed among the top 50.
Jason Fish, of Jason's, said it felt like "quite the achievement".
“The competition is independently audited by a mystery shopper," he said.
"You do not know they are coming in and it is done by a person in secret who judges you on all aspects of the business - the service, the quality of the fish and chips and loads of other stuff.
“We scored 100pc out of 100pc which meant we were among the top of the top 50. We were very pleased and you could say we ‘battered the competition’.”
He said it meant a lot to make the top 50, particularly as it had been a difficult time for hospitality businesses.
“People seem to be very conscious about where they are spending their money since Covid and seem to be keen to support small independent businesses," he said.
“The judges also assess your work on things like sustainability as well as check what your involvement is with the community. It is about the whole package, although ultimately the standard of the fish and chips is the most important thing."
Elsewhere, Tropics Two, in Dersingham, was listed among the best fish and chip vans.
Kurtis Green, of Tropics Two, a family-run business, said the secret to their success was the quality of the product, reasonable price and service.
While the business usually visits festivals, fetes and events, he said during the pandemic they had focused more on villages around the Dersingham area.
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