A TALENTED young employee at a popular fish and chip shop in Chester has been shortlisted for a coveted national award.

James Ellams, who works at Fish & Chips @ Weston Grove, is in the running for the acclaimed Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year Award at the National Fish & Chip Awards 2025.

Representing the best upcoming talent is a group of 12 ‘pro-fish-ionals’ - all aged 25 or under with a minimum of six months’ frying experience – who have caught the attention of the judging panel for their sound understanding of how to cook fish and chips consistently well.

During a live video call, the young fish friers will put their skills in action while being assessed by experts who will grade them on criteria including their fish and batter preparation, oil temperature control and frying technique.

The young friers who impress the panel enough to make the final round of judging will then face an in-depth judging visit at their place of work. 

The National Fish & Chip Awards is the biggest of its kind in the sector and is well respected for its in-depth approach to appraise, improve and set new standards within the industry. It provides an opportunity for individuals and the businesses they work for to receive expert feedback and direction for continued sustained success.

The full list of those shortlisted is:

Abigail Barker – Millers Fish & Chips in Haxby (near York), Yorkshire

Kieran Bulpit – Linfords Traditional Fish & Chips in Market Deeping, Lincolnshire

Courtney Clifford – St Annes Fish Restaurant in St Annes-on-the-Sea, Lancashire

James Ellams - Fish & Chips @ Weston Grove in Chester, Cheshire

Sebastian Harding Crook – Squires in Braunton, Devon

Charlie James – Pier Point Fish & Chips in Torquay, Devon

Charlotte Jones – Finneys Amlwch in Anglesey, Wales

Scott Kendrew – Millers Fish & Chips in Haxby (near York), Yorkshire

Charlie Knox – The Carron in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Georgia Lye – Seafare Guilford in Surrey

Sebastian Miller – Linfords Traditional Fish & Chips in Market Deeping, Lincolnshire

Glen Morrison – Garioch Fish Bar in Inverurie, Scotland

Award sponsor Kelvin Lee, managing director of Drywite Ltd, said: “We are very pleased to be running the Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year competition again in 2025.

"We always find the calibre of young talent coming through the industry amazing and all twelve of those shortlisted this year have the potential to really drive their fish and chip careers forward in the future."

Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), and awards organiser, said: “The Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year is such an amazing category as we get to witness the candidates blossoming in confidence and coming into their own.

"They are the future of the industry and it’s our responsibility to provide opportunities for people to receive individual feedback and encouragement from those that know the business inside out. We’re excited to see how they put their knowledge into practice for the live frying task.”

The National Fish & Chip Awards 2025 will take place on February 26 at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London.