City News

A Birmingham takeaway set up by a group of friends to specialise in good quality British food has been selected as the best fish and chip shop in the West Midlands, Warwickshire and Staffordshire in the National Fish & Chip Shop of the Year competition 2009.
 
The Great British Eatery (GBE), based at the city’s premiere leisure and entertainment venue Broadway Plaza, has beaten off competition from four other restaurants to represent the region in the prestigious awards.

It will now go head to head with 20 other fish and chips nationwide in another round of judging before the final ten are chosen for the grand final, held in London in January 2010.

GBE partners Conrad Brunton and Andrew Insley said they were frying high after hearing the news they had scooped the regional award.
 
“It’s absolutely amazing. We keep pinching ourselves. It’s now official that we are among the best 21 chip shops in the country. Fingers crossed we can now get into the final top ten.”

GBE was selected for the regional award after visit from a mystery judge who assessed chippies on product quality, customer service, hygiene, staff training and approaches to sustainable sourcing.

The announcement comes just months after the restaurant’s fish and chips were first in the region to be awarded top marks in the Seafish Friers Quality awards.

Nikki Hawkins, foodservice and events manager at Seafish, said: “This competition is now in its 22nd year. Fish and chip shops throughout the country are constantly raising the bar on quality and standards, making sure Britain’s iconic dish remains a firm favourite with customers throughout the country.
 
The Great British Eatery was set up just last August by Conrad and Andrew and their old school pals Matt Whittlestone and Russell Kilshaw, 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.