Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Top chippie has eyes on the fries
Fish n chip shop serves up double helping of success
A popular Coatbridge chippie is savouring a double helping of success after serving up two prestigious top ratings in a major industry competition.
Tony’s Fish and Chip Shop has been named as one of Britain’s top 50 takeaways for the traditional tasty dinner – and its travelling chip van, Tony’s on the Go, is rated in the nation’s top 10 mobile units for a third successive year.
It is one of only nine chippies in Scotland to make the list, produced by industry publication Fry magazine, and one of only two from the nationwide top 50 to have an additional mobile unit in the accompanying top 10.
News of the accolade came just as business owner Hugh Innes celebrated 40 years in the trade. He said: “It’s an amazing achievement and we’re really grateful that the hard work we’ve put in has been recognised.
“We’re a small business and we’re competing with the best takeaways in the UK – I always say we’re not here to take part, we’re here to take over!
“All the staff are over the moon and I want to say a huge thanks to them for all their hard work, and to our customers for all their support.
“It’s great to know we can enter something like this and compete with the best in the country.
“After a difficult year for everybody, these awards are a real feel-good thing to happen.”
The Coatbridge chip shop, and its van which covers neighbouring parts of North Lanarkshire, were given scores by mystery diners in January and the results were revealed this week – with Tony’s outlets scoring 99 and 98 per cent respectively.
Hugh said: “They rate the quality of the food, so they’re looking for flaky fish, crunchy batter and crisp chips – we pride ourselves on selling the best fish, which is all delivered daily from Peterhead. We cook to order which is more challenging, but we’re trying to be the best we can.
“There were also scores for service, cleanliness, social distancing, face masks, how long to answer the phone and the response, plus lots more which we didn’t even know we were being judged on.
“Our mystery diner visit was at a time when we were still getting used to new restrictions with customers having to be outside. We’re having to take phone orders for collections and do things differently to normal at the moment.”
Hugh took over the chip shop in Shawhead seven years ago, and it has grown in popularity ever since, earning a string of awards including best newcomer at the 2018 Dine In ceremony.
The Tony’s on the Go van has featured in the Fry magazine top 10 every year since Hugh first added it to the business.
It now covers Carnbroe, Viewpark, Bargeddie and Townhead on four nights each week and its location can be found using the shop’s app.
It is also used for special events, with Hugh and his staff previously visiting St Andrew’s Hospice to treat patients and staff before last year’s lockdown, while they have also used their travelling kitchen to provide meals for homeless people in Glasgow.
Tony’s is the only North Lanarkshire outlet in the Fry magazine top 50, while the flag is flown in neighbouring South Lanarkshire by fellow entrant Valerio’s Fish and Chips in Lanark.