A Reel Catch!: The Fishdock Fryer Lands Golden Haddock Crown Just Seven Weeks After Opening

A Cleethorpes fish and chip shop that only opened its doors seven weeks ago has been crowned the winner of the inaugural Golden Haddock Award.

The new chippy on the block, the Fishdock Fryer, on Alexandra Road, fought off competition from some of the area's most established chippies after receiving the highest number of votes from local residents.

The Golden Haddock Award was launched by Melanie Onn MP ahead of National Fish and Chip Day to find Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes' favourite fish and chip shop.

Hundreds of residents took part in the competition, with just 25 votes separating first and seventh place in a closely fought contest.

The Golden Haddock trophy is currently in the process of being made by the team at We Are Fish, after it was very kindly funded by a group of retired fish workers and merchants. Melanie will present the award to Natalie, Will, and the team in the coming weeks.

Melanie Onn, the MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, said:

"Fish and chip shops are part of the fabric of our communities; nowhere takes its fish and chips more seriously than Grimsby and Cleethorpes.

"The response to the Golden Haddock Award was fantastic. People were incredibly passionate about supporting their favourite chippy, and there was certainly plenty of debate in my comments section about who should come out on top.

"To win after being open for just seven weeks is a remarkable achievement. The support the Fishdock Fryer received from local people was hugely impressive and is a real credit to Natalie, Will and the whole team. They should be so proud of themselves. It's great that we have local businesses with such a passionate customer base.

“Their recent opening reflects the strength of Grimsby and Cleethorpes as places to invest and open new hospitality businesses. We’ve seen a number of new venues and businesses launch in recent months, with the Fishdock Fryer being a great example of that positive change.

"I also want to thank everyone who nominated and voted, and all of the brilliant fish and chip shops in Grimsby and Cleethorpes. The level of support for a number of chippies was exceptionally high, which is exactly what you would expect in the home of the world's finest fish."

Natalie and Will, owners of the Fishdock Fryer, said:

“We have an incredible team on board who are helping to run the shop alongside the husband-and-wife partnership of Will and myself, Natalie.

“The team come with an abundance of experience in both the fish and chip industry and hospitality, and along with serving the best locally sourced produce, we have a friendly team welcoming our lovely customers.

“We are also trying to offer different fish and chip options, not just haddock. Our fish is sourced fresh daily from the Grimsby Fish Docks, where Will himself works as a fish filleter and has worked since he was 16. Will is truly passionate about the fishing industry and follows in his grandfather’s footsteps, having grown up hearing stories about his grandfather’s fish and chip shop down south.

“My family also have the fishing industry in their blood, as my grandfather served in the Merchant Navy and also sailed on the Ross Tiger!

“We were destined to have our own shop, it was just a matter of time, and we were lucky that the opportunity arose earlier this year.

“We are trying to stand out from the crowd by offering gluten free options every day, rather than just on the occasional day, and by serving haddock, plaice and skate. Everything is cooked fresh to order.

“We want the locals to love us and seeing so many returning customers makes us think we’re doing something right!”