Gloucestershire has been noticeably absent from the prestigious list of the best fish and chip shops in the country, as revealed by the 2026 Fry Awards. Despite the county’s rich culinary scene, no local establishments secured a spot among the nation’s top fish and chip takeaways or restaurants this year.
In contrast, neighboring areas such as Somerset and Bristol proudly featured in the coveted awards. Additionally, culinary hotspots across Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, and even Cardiff were recognized, highlighting the competitive nature of this year’s judging process.
The Fry Awards panel conducted months of meticulous evaluations, with mystery diners making secret visits to takeaways, restaurants, and mobile vendors. They assessed each contender on multiple criteria, including food quality, cleanliness of premises, staff professionalism, value for money, ease of ordering, and social media engagement.
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Given the stringent standards, only operators achieving near-perfect scores earned awards. The minimum threshold this year was 97 percent for takeaways and 96 percent for restaurants. Impressively, several businesses attained a flawless 100 percent score, underscoring the high caliber of the winners.
Among the South West’s top 50 takeaways and the top 10 restaurants highlighted in the awards, numerous venues from surrounding counties were celebrated. Each participant received a detailed mystery dining report, providing valuable feedback, while winners were presented with a commemorative plaque to showcase their achievement.
This year also introduced a new prize: winners received an exclusive eight-piece set of premium frying utensils, courtesy of award sponsor Hopkins, valued at approximately £200. Though Gloucestershire was not represented among the winners this year, the recognition garnered by neighboring regions sets a high bar for local businesses to aspire to in the future.