It's an incredible feat when one independent fish and chip shop in a small Welsh village set in the historic borough of Caerphilly gets recognised in one of the food industry's most prestigious award ceremonies in the country - the National Fish and Chip Awards. But even more so when two, situated just 12 minutes apart, are celebrated for their tasty offerings.
Shipdeck in Trethomas and Fish Kitchen 1854 in Maesycwmmer are getting ready to make their way to London's Park Plaza in Westminster as top 10 finalists at the national awards which are set to take place on Tuesday, February 28, competing against eight other chippies from across the UK - and each other - in the Takeaway of the Year category. Read more on that here.
And while many may think the fact that these chippies are so close in proximity to eachother - both being in Caerphilly county borough - would make them rivals in the same industry, in fact it is quite the opposite, they're friends, eachother's supporters (both as indy chippies) and just both rather chuffed to fly the flag for Wales at these awards.
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We spoke with Ryan Hughes and Samantha Humphreys of Fish Kitchen and Shipdeck to see how they are feeling ahead of the awards and it was truly refreshing to hear the camaraderie between two great Welsh chippies - and no animosity.
"We're really excited about it," Ryan, who runs Shipdeck with his wife Kimberly, tells us. "Obviously being in the top 10 itself is a massive achievement. Extremely proud of our staff who work so hard and obviously keep our standards high and produce the best product we can, the best customer service we can. It's good to give something back to the local community and our customers. It's been really good for us, so far. Trade has been booming ever since the top 10 choice. It's a good achievement so far.
And speaking of being up against fellow Welsh chippie Fish Kitchen 1854 - which is run by Lee Humphreys and his wife Samantha - Ryan says: "This year is the first [chip awards category] that there's two shops in [Wales]. Myself and Lee from Fish Kitchen, we're good friends. And he comes down all the time - he came down here Saturday to borrow fish off me. So we always help eachother out.
"We're always on the phone to eachother and talking about price increases and anything really - the ingredients or the variety of potatoes. So we've always helped eachother out, really. It shows we're both doing something right for us to get through - and being from Wales, which is good."
He added: "He's got a fantastic shop. We've got a good shop as well, so it's good for us both to get through. And to be honest, getting onto the top ten was my acheivement and I'm just looking forward now.When I found out we got to the top ten, I did phone him and said 'We're both in it' and you could hear it in his voice he got really excited about it."
He concluded: "If he was to go on to win it, I'd be glad that it's coming to Wales, and it's come into the community!"
As for the fact that these awards - regardless of who wins - is championing fish and chip shops in Caerphilly, a county that isn't next to the seaside like Porthcawl or Barry, Ryan said: "It'd be good to have someone away from the seaside and someone in Wales to win to say there are some fantastic shops in Wales, they're dotted all over the place."
But what do Fish Kitchen 1854 think? Samantha Humphreys explains how "thrilled" she is to be in the top 10 with Shipdeck and says: "We can't believe it, to be honest. A couple of years ago, when we first we opened our shop back in December 2018, we got entered and we got top 10 for the Best Newcomer that year. But we didn't go any further in that one. And then Covid hit and the awards stopped for a few years. And now they've all started back up again so we decided to enter again, and we had to to have our customers voting for us as well with QR sheets that they could scan and vote. So a lot of the vote has gone on the public vote as well.
"It's all a bit of a whirlwind to be honest. We're just absolutely thrilled to bits that we're in it. We'd just like to thank all our customers really that voted for us and everything. And just I'm just hoping that we win."
And What about if Shipdeck takes the gong? "We might share a beverage or two with them!"
Speaking about their friendship, she added: "We know each other as well. We try and help each other out and things, you know, if anyone's short. We are close with them. It is good to have allies in the business. Both of us are flying the flag for Wales and both of us from the Caerphilly County Borough."
Speaking of how they support each other as businesses - despite being each other's competitors - Sam explains: "We've known of Ryan from within the industry. You know, it's nothing major. If we're ever short on packaging or something, or someone's short of something, then we'll ring eachother up and say: 'Oh, can you lend us this until our our supplies can get here?'
"It's not a weekly occurrence," she laughs, "But we know that he's there at the end of the phone." And it's a standard practice, apparently, in the chippy industry to lean on your friends when in need. "There's a great shop that we are good friends with called Penalunas up in Hirwaun up near Aberdare, they've been previous winners. And you know, they're always on call as well. So it's a very, very friendly and helpful industry to be in. Everyone in the fish and chip industry are so, so friendly, and are so helpful."
Whoever wins - although she understandably wants someone in Wales - Sam says of being finalists at these awards: "We're just trying to highlight all the positiveness that goes with fish and chips really. Everyone loves a chippy tea, especially on a Friday."
The National Fish and Chip Awards are taking place on Tuesday, February 28. To get the latest food and drink news straight to your inbox, subscribe to our dedicated newsletter here.
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