The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Chippy takes first plaice
Dunkeld fish and chip shop picks up national award against hundreds of delicious entries
A Perthshire takeaway battered competition from all over the country to be crowned Scotland’s best fish and chip shop.
Dunkeld Fish Bar picked up the prize at the Dine In Awards in Glasgow this week.
Despite judges appearing late on a Saturday night, the Atholl Street chippy scored the top mark available, 80 out of 80 – and the tasters were so impressed they added bonus marks.
Delighted owner Scott Davie attended the awards ceremony this week with his two managers after his wife, Shannon, entered the shop without him knowing.
He said: “We were all excited to be finalists. The guys work so hard and we try to have everything at its best so it’s nice to be recognised.
“There’s a lot of competition from places on the coast and even here in Perthshire so I’m over the moon that we won.”
Dunkeld Fish Bar was one of 400 entries and 10 finalists in the Fish and Chips Category, pitted against takeaways in Perthshire, Glasgow, Ayrshire, Aberdeen and the
Highlands.
Also among them were The Chippy, Blairgowrie, Alyth Fish and Chip Shop, and Val Di Vara in Brechin.
Scott is well known locally for his willingness to batter and deep fry anything edible.
Last Christmas, his fried festive foods such as mince pies and stuffing were hugely popular.
He has even pledged to bring back the controversial fried Brussels sprouts, saying they were a hit with even the biggest vegetable-haters.
He said: “We have even fried a massive strawberry gateau.
“It was in the fryer for 20 minutes because it was so big but it was delicious.
“There’s not much you can’t fry but we are running out of ideas now, I think we’ve run out of things to fry.”
The success allowed Scott to expand the business and this year a sit-in area was added to the restaurant.
However, the family business ethos remains and the restaurant is furnished with his grandmother’s chairs.
Meanwhile, the wooden bar and shelves were made using a single oak tree, felled locally.
Perthshire North MSP John Swinney congratulated the shop on the award.
“I am delighted for the entire team at Dunkeld Fish Bar and I warmly congratulate them on their victory,” he said.
“This accolade only strengthens Perthshire’s reputation as a great place for food and I am sure that many tourists will be keen to visit Dunkeld Fish Bar in order to taste their award-winning food.”