Torquay chippy crowned second best in country

A Torquay fish and chip shop has come from a devastating fire to being a top fryer after it was crowned the second-best fish and chip shop in the UK

Pier Point, based on Torbay Road in Torquay won the award at the National Fish and Chip Awards 2024 in London.

Hosted by comedian Rob Beckett, the heavily anticipated event was attended by chippy business owners from across the country as well as industry partners and sponsors.

There was even a drinks reception in the Houses of Parliament.

The award was well earned given that just a few years ago, a fire had ruined proprietor Lorraine Arnold’s previous chippy.

“We started in Paignton with Paignton Pier Chippy, but within a couple of months of opening we had a massive fire that gutted the building,” said Lorraine.
 
“We had opened in January of 2018 and in May, just before the Air Show and the half term that we were looking forward to, we had the fire. It was horrendous.”

Even then, Lorraine was ambitious to make her chippy stand out. That same year, Paignton Pier Chippy got top three for best newcomer and top three again the following year for the Field to Fryer Award.

Progressing to buy Pier Point, Lorraine was again hit with a stroke of misfortune when the Covid lockdowns struck three weeks after opening up shop.

She said: “It was terrible timing, but it gave us the time to invest a quarter of a million pounds into gutting the restaurant and turning Pier Pint into what it is today. We didn’t really open properly until 2021.”

Soon, however, Pier Point and its team were making a name for themselves, winning Gold in Food and Drink Devon and Taste of the South West.

Lorraine also went on to win Torbay Weekly’s Inspirational Leader Award, as well as the Resilience Award.

But it was this national award that marked the best achievement to date.

Lorraine said: “Being second in the country is just phenomenal, obviously we've got our eye on the top spot for next year but we couldn’t be happier with the result, especially after everything we've been through.

“A lot of the people in the industry are third, fourth or even fifth generation, I'm first generation so I'm a baby really, so it's just incredible to win this and it's a testament to the team I've got around me.”

A fry cook at Pier Point, Charlie James, also received an award, ranking among the top six fish fryers.

Lorraine added: “I’ve got to thank Henry Moreton, who's believed in me right from the beginning and invested in me as a silent partner; James Astles, who's been with me for the last few years and Kelly Widley, who’s been great on the social media side.

“I feel very proud of all my staff. I have some people that have worked for me since the very beginning when I was at Paignton Pier Chippy. Your staff are what makes a business and it’s a pleasure to work with them.

“This has been an amazing experience and I’m excited to see what the future may hold.”