Darlington has the best chip shop in the land!
If you’re looking for a plaice that truly batters the competition, Darlington is frying high. Yes, that is a lot of bad puns to mark Yarm Road Fish and Chips in Darlington being named Takeaway of the Year at the prestigious National Fish & Chip Awards 2025.
Now in its 37th year, the event took place in London on 26th February, with the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) bringing together the best in the fish and chip trade.
Some of the assessment work involved with reaching a decision includes interviews, skill assessments and mystery taste tests. You might not think there’s a lot to consider when evaluating fish and chips, but you’d be surprised at what separates the great shops from the average.
What are the winners saying?
Speaking to The Northern Echo, Will Burrell, director-manager of Yarm Road Fish and Chips, was amazed at the win: “Well, we can’t quite believe it! We really didn’t think this year would be our year. Not because of how the process and judging has gone, but purely because of just how unbelievable the rest of the top 10 finalists are. To be mentioned alongside these guys is one thing, but to top the list is something we could only dream of! Now somehow, it’s reality. Our biggest congratulations and thanks go out to our amazing team. They have worked tirelessly throughout the years and have been so invested in this competition. It goes without saying, but without them we would be nowhere near this position we find ourselves in today. To take this trophy home to them makes all the hard work worthwhile.”
Do locals agree with the award?
Of course, national awards are great—but what do Darlington locals think? Just because national judges hold one opinion, it doesn’t necessarily follow that residents agree.
We took to Trip Advisor and typed in Darlington fish and chips. At first glance, we were surprised, Yarm Road Fish and Chips only ranked 13th when searching for "Darlington fish & chips" on TripAdvisor. But then, we realised why.
The ranking considers restaurants and bars serving up fish and chips, rather than just looking at chippies, like the National Fish & Chip Awards!
You’ll be pleased to know the Yarm Road outlet was the top-ranked traditional fish and chip shop, edging ahead of other local options like Frydays, Park Lane Fisheries and The Right Plaice.
Different situations call for different experiences and services
This is fair, because the experience you hope for when ordering fish and chips in a bar or restaurant is different from what you’d expect in your local fish and chip shop.
In this regard, we are pleased to say local opinion agrees with national judges, which is another feather in the cap for Yarm Road Fish and Chips.
We aim to come out on top when it comes to local property market
We’d never try to tell you that the quality of fish and chips is a priority for homebuyers when looking for a house. However, the standard of local food options are one of the many factors that people consider when looking for a new area. When you have local businesses you want to support, you feel part of the community.
We’re delighted for Yarm Road Fish and Chips, and we’re pleased Darlington is in the news and on the map for all the right reasons. We’ll leave the frying to the experts—but if you want top-quality advice on Darlington’s property market, we’re here to help.
Contact Anthony Jones for all Darlington property matters
If you are looking for help with any matter of the Darlington property market, it is best to speak to property professionals. No one knows for sure what is going to happen next, so we won’t claim to have all the answers, but the Anthony Jones team is keen to help you as best we can. If you would like to contact us over housing matters, please call us today on 01325 776424.
