Gloucestershire has sadly been overlooked in the prestigious 2026 Fry Awards, which celebrate the best fish and chip shops and takeaways across the UK. Despite strong contenders in neighboring areas such as Bristol, Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, and even Cardiff, no establishments from Gloucestershire made it onto this year’s distinguished list.
The awards are fiercely competitive, with mystery diners conducting anonymous visits over several months to evaluate candidates on multiple criteria. These include the quality of the food, cleanliness of the premises, staff professionalism, value for money, ease of ordering, and social media engagement.
Only the top-scoring businesses receive accolades, with the threshold for success set at an impressive 97% in the takeaway category and 96% in the restaurant category. Some entrants even achieved perfect 100% scores, demonstrating the high standards celebrated by Fry Magazine in its 14th annual event.
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In the South West region, scratchings from the 50 Best Takeaways and 10 Best Restaurants lists come from Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, and Bristol, highlighting strong culinary performance just beyond Gloucestershire’s borders.
Every participant receives detailed feedback from their mystery dining experience, while winners earn a commemorative plaque to showcase their achievement. This year, each winning business will also be gifted a premium set of eight frying utensils, courtesy of Hopkins, valued at approximately £200—a new addition that enhances the honour.
While Gloucestershire missed out this time, the competition remains a benchmark of excellence for fish and chip establishments across the country.