A CREWE chippy has become an a-peeling prospect after earning its plaice among some of the UK’s best fish and chips shops.

The Fish Bar at Sunnybank Road in Crewe, won the From Field to Frier award at the 2016 National Fish and Chip Awards, organised by Seafish, on January, 20.

The shop scooped the award, which recognises the responsible sourcing of potatoes, during a prestigious ceremony at the Lancaster London Hotel in London.

Craig Buckley, owner of The Fish Bar at Sunnybank Road, said: “We’re over the moon to have received an award; it’s an honour to be recognised by our industry and peers.

“I always think chips tend to be overlooked because fish is generally thought of as a more important component.

“At The Fish Bar, we trace our potatoes back to their source and we carry out regular sugar testing measurements to ensure the quality is the best we can get – we even have a glass preparation screen within the shop so customers can see our methods in action.

“It’s our mission to demonstrate and inform others about the importance of the chip. To be recognised for something we are so passionate about is truly amazing.”

Judges praised The Fish Bar at Sunnybank Road’s potato knowledge and the storage and preparation of the raw ingredients.

They were also subjected to an in-depth judging visit from an awards auditor assessing the shops’ operational aspects, customer service levels and quality of the fish and chips.

Mel Groundsell, corporate relations director of Seafish, said: “Measuring not only the quality of the chip, this award also recognises the responsible sourcing methods being employed by businesses.

“With fish sustainability currently at the forefront of many industry discussions, it’s easy to overlook the significance of potato provenance but I’m pleased to report that our fish and chip businesses are showing great diligence in responsibly sourcing potatoes of the highest quality.

“The high levels of knowledge and expertise coming through in this award category continues to get stronger.

“The Fish Bar at Sunnybank Road has a wealth of expertise and passion, demonstrated in abundance throughout the judging process.

“Achieving an award of this high standard for their thorough knowledge and dedication to learning and understanding the whole journey of their potato brand is admirable.”