The owner of an Oxford fish and chip shop nominated for UK Takeaway of the Year says he is thrilled to be nominated and hopes they are in with a chance.

Ryan Harrison, who co-owns and manages Harrison’s Fish & Chip Co. in Elm’s Parade, Botley, shared his thoughts on making it onto the shortlist for the gong.

The National Federation of Fish Friers is recognising the Oxford chippy for the second year in a row for the Fish and Chip Awards 2025.

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Mr Harrison said: “I hope we’re in the running.

“This year we were also awarded a quality assurance award which was really good, and I think we’re the only shop in Oxford that has that accreditation." 

Quality assurance awards are issued by the federation after assessing a shop’s production – from sourcing fish sustainably, to how its cooked, to the takeaway’s service and premises – and finding it up to scratch.

“It’s just nice to know that we’re reaching the standard and that we’re offering a good quality product to our customers,” Mr Harrison said.

“To win it would be amazing – I haven’t really thought about it, just to get in the top 40 was brilliant."

Harrison’s Fish & Chip Co. is a family business that opened three years ago, run by Mr Harrison and his parents who live and grew up in Botley.

In its first year, the shop was invited to apply for the “Best Newcomer” category, for which it made it into the final 10.

(Image: Ryan Harrison)

Mr Harrison said: “We noticed an opening in the market for the fish and chip shop because after the new development the old one closed down, so we wanted to bring something in and make it nice for the area." 

He added that the shop was welcomed by the community and now receives visitors from all over Oxfordshire and beyond.

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Giving back is important to the chippy bosses too as it supported the under 13s football team the Cumnor Minors by kitting out its players and donated 130 cans of food to a nearby community kitchen.

(Image: Ryan Harrison) As well as its charitable work, Harrison’s Fish & Chip Co. hopes that its quality assurance award, high food hygiene rating, and more than anything, its food, can bag it the award.

The Fish Friers Federation is looking for the shop operating to the highest standards and producing fish and chips of the best quality.

The top 20 takeaways of the 40 shortlisted will be interviewed, and the top 10 will invited to an awards ceremony next February.

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