Airdrie chippy is the county’s best

Off the Hook named in UK’s top 50 chippies

An Airdrie chippy has battered the competition to be voted one of the UK’s best takeaways by a respected industry publication.

Off the Hook’s manager, Johnny Chung, was frying high after his popular chippy made Fry magazine’s 50 Best Fish and Chip Takeaways list - the only Lanarkshire outlet to make the cut.

The leading trade publication conducted a painstaking sixmonth search across hundreds of chippies to find the finest fish suppers in the land.

And to take its “plaice” at the top table Off the Hook had to impress a mystery diner, who rated it on no less than 40 aspects of the business – from food quality to value for money – and scored it a near perfect 98 per cent.

A delighted Johnny told the Advertiser: “I’m really happy to make the grade. It’s the second time that we’ve received this honour and last year we just missed out by one per cent.

“It’s great for the staff and customers alike.

“The contest has been going for six years and it’s a really big deal.

“If you look at the list of the shops who entered, many of them have also won national awards.

“We were among only six chippies in Scotland to make the list and the only one in Lanarkshire, so I’m very proud.”

Johnny decided against telling his team – who were subsequently judged to be “friendly and efficient” – that he’d even entered the competition.

He continued: “It’s not just the food that’s assessed, the friendliness and efficiency of the staff is too, as well as the cleanliness of the shop both inside and out.

“You need to get more than 96 per cent to make the top 50, so we’re really happy to achieve 98 per cent.”

The High Street shop, which has only been open for four years, impressed Fry’s mystery diner with its “flaky and white” fish which was deemed“one of the best pieces of fish I have ever tasted”.

The chips were “perfect; crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside as proper chips should be”.

We were among only six chippies in Scotland to make the list and the only one in Lanarkshire

Top team Johnny Chung, second left, with wife Lee, children Lotti and Kobe, and staff members Ryan Gardner and Lauren Anderson. Above left: the chippy’s certificate