FISH and chips have always had a special plaice in the hearts - and stomachs - of the nation.
For batter or for worse, the wonderfully simple dish is a staple of thousands of takeaways across the land.
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An ambassador for chippie Dolphin in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, dresses to impressCredit: Facebook
Fish 'n' chip shop Casey's claims to sell the largest portion in the UK
Among thousands of potential contenders, Seafish judges have made it their mission to whittle down the coolest cod in town.
The National Fish & Chip Awards carefully assesses the chippies on a number of factors.
These range from considering sustainable sourcing policies, menu development and innovation to staff training policies and marketing activities.
Those in the top 20 will compete in two further rounds of judging to make it to the nation number one's chippy, as the shops undergo a further phase of mystery diner judging inspections to whittle down further to the top 10 shortlist.
The winner of the Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Award will be announced at The National Fish & Chip Awards' 31st anniversary ceremony in London on 24 January 2019.
Lows Traditional Fish & Chip Shop - Aberdeenshire (Scotland)
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Established over 30 years ago, Low’s plays an important part of the local community, supporting and sponsoring many local community initiatives. Haddock is the fish of choice at Low’s, which is located in Aberdeen's Westhill shopping centreCredit: Facebook
The Fish Hoose - Fife (Scotland)
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Owned and run by Colin Cromar who has a lifetime of experience in running award winning fish and chip shops – The Fish Hoose in Thornton, Fife, is Colin’s latest new ventureCredit: Facebook
Shillingfords - West Glamorgan (Wales)
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Shillingfords in Glamorgan, South Wales, is one of only seven MSC certified fish and chip shops in Wales. Freshly cooked cod and haddock is order of the day here!Credit: Facebook
The Crispy Cod - Rhondda Cynon Taf (Wales)
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The Crispy Cod was founded by Mathew Williams in Tonyrefail in 2008, with the intention of providing the freshest and finest food in the Rhondda ValleyCredit: Facebook
Dolphin Takeaway - County Tyrone (Northern Ireland)
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Dolphin in Dungannon claims to 'stay ahead of the shoal'. Owner Malachy Mallon is hoping to enter the Guinness Book of Records by establishing the world's highest fish and chip shop at 15,000ft on Mount KilimanjaroCredit: Facebook
Silverfin's Traditional Fish & Chips - County Armagh (Northern Ireland)
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Wet fish? Silverfin's in Newry, Northern Ireland has enticing wet fish display so customers can choose their fish and chips freshly cooked to orderCredit: Facebook
Mister C's - North Yorkshire (North east England)
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Founded in 1981 in Selby, Mister C's still uses the same family batter recipe that the shop used on the first day it opened. The chippie has now moved to Micklegate in York, where it serves Yorkshire and Lincolnshire potatoes alongside its fish offeringsCredit: Facebook
Papa's Fish and Chips - East Yorkshire (North east England)
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They're queuing for a reason... this posh chippie joint on the outskirts of Hull is the world's largest fish and chip restaurant and takeaway!Credit: Facebook
Golden Carp Chippy - Worcestershire (Midlands)
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This Redditch plaice has got every fish in the brookCredit: Facebook
Winyates Chippy - Worcestershire (Midlands)
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Also in Redditch, this chippy sells all sorts of fish including cod, haddock, plaice, sole, seabass, hake, fresh roe, fish bitesCredit: Facebook
Angel Lane Chippie - Cumbria (North west England)
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The premises became a fish and chip shop in 1928, making it Penrith's longest-serving chippieCredit: Facebook
Frydays of Kendal - Cumbria (North west England)
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Frydays in Kendal, Cumbria, is a husband and wife run fish & chip shop, with gluten free offerings to bootCredit: Facebook
Frydales - Leicestershire (Eastern England)
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Owned and run by young Charlie Collins – still in his early 20s – Frydales serves up 100 per cent Marine Stewardship Council certified cod and haddockCredit: Facebook
Papa's Fish and Chips - Lincolnshire (Eastern England)
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The chippie on the iconic Cleethorpe promenade dubs itself the 'daddy of fish & chips' and was founded in 1966Credit: Facebook
Olley's Fish Experience - Herne Hill (London)
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The South London celeb hotspot was named Olleys after Charles Dickens referenced the popular dish in Oliver TwistCredit: Facebook
Poppies Fish & Chips - Soho (London)
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At the helm of Poppies is Pat 'Pop' Newland, whose career in the fish and chip business started in 1952 at the age of 11Credit: Facebook
Captain’s Fish and Chips - Hertfordshire (South east England)
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Captain's has become the stuff of local legend since it was opened by Tony Forgione and his brothers in 1998 in HoddesdonCredit: Facebook
Sidney and Sons Fish and Chips - Hertfordshire (South east England)
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Also in the Forgione branch, this one was named after their father, Ciriaco Forgione - who resembled Sid James of 'carry on' films fameCredit: Facebook
Harbour Lights - Cornwall (South west England)
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The family-run business on the Falmouth waterfront is a staple among locals and tourists alikeCredit: Facebook
Krispies Fish & Chips - Devon (South west England)
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Krispies is a family-run business in Exmouth, famous for their battered chips that are lightly coated with batter from a secret recipeCredit: Facebook
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