City News

B'ham restaurant awaits first plaice in national chippy contest

                  
Birmingham’s Great British Eatery (GBE) could be crowned National Fish & Chip Shop of the Year this week. The restaurant, based at Broadway Plaza, is among just 10 restaurants shortlisted for the final in London on January 21.
 
GBE has battered off competition from scores of fish and chip shops around the UK to make it into the final of the prestigious competition. It is representing the entire Midlands region, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire. The competition is run by Seafish, the authority on seafood.
 
On January 20 each of the shortlisted fish and chip shops will have to meet the panel of top judges and describe why they should be given the title. GBE owners Andrew Insley and Conrad Brunton say they’ve have been doing lots of preparation to ensure they have the best possible case.
 
“We are going to show that our restaurant is a cut above other fish and chip shops,” Andy explained.
 
“We train our staff thoroughly and only use fresh, local produce. We have even been to meet our fish suppliers in Grimsby to ensure fish traceability and sustainability. We set our standards high - our background is Michelin starred restaurants. And we believe that our fish and chips are the best in the land and deserve to win the coveted title.”
 
Nikki Hawkins, competition judge and project manager for the competition at Seafish, said: “The standard of entrants continues to increase each year and we are witnessing fish and chips shops paying an increasing amount of attention to sustainable sourcing as well as offering quality, value and choice.  This
industry has come a long way in 22 years and competition for the national title only gets fiercer each year.”
 
GBE was set up just in August 2008 by old school pals Conrad and Andrew, after agreeing that they couldn’t find any decent fish and chips in the city. The restaurant has since gone from strength to strength, employing five members of staff and selling out all their food at the recent Taste of Birmingham food festival.
 
GBE is located at Broadway Plaza on Ladywood Middleway near Five Ways. For more details visit www.broadway-plaza.co.uk or www.greatbritisheatery.co.uk