A BILLERICAY chippy has landed itself the honour of being named one of the best five fish and chip shops in the whole of Essex, Middlesex and Greater London.

Billericay Fish n' Chicken, was recently shortlisted in the prestigious Sea Fish Industry Authority's fish and chip shop of the year competition.

Fish n' Chicken workers are now waiting to see if their shop will make it to the final heat in the contest where the five shortlisted venues will be whittled down to three finalists in September.

Paul Goodgame, Fish n' Chicken area manager, said he was confident the shop has what it takes to win the award.

He said: "We've come regional runners-up in the past so we're optimistic we'll go quite far this time."

Mr Goodgame said the store, in Billericay's High Street, had three secrets which give it the winning edge.

He said its batter was a special brew which ensured fish was cooked to perfection.

Mr Goodgame said: "We have our own special batter, not like other shops that use batter bought off the shelves.

"It's made to ensure the fish is crispy and never soggy. It's all the little things that matter."

Next, he said the store's chain sends its own boats to Icelandic waters where it catches sustainable fish, which have a consistent size and quality.

He added: "It's unusual to get exactly what you want when it comes to fish."

Mr Goodgame said Basildon Council was the shop's final secret weapon in its quest for the crown.

He said they had been working with council officers to ensure the store, which is part of a chain of 26, has the highest possible food standards.

The competition winner will be announced at an awards ceremony in London in January.

The facts and figures behind the fish

Sizzling fish and chips history facts:

  • 1837 - fried fish gets its first mention in Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist
  • 1850s - street traders selling fried fish and cooked shaved potatoes appear on the streets and alleys of London
  • 1860s - Joseph Malin opens the first fish and chip shop in London
  • 1863 - John Lees opens the first fish and chip shop outside London in Mossley, Cheshire.

Fish and chip trivia:

  • There are more than 11,000 fish and chip shops in the UK
  • Yorkshire residents are the biggest consumers of fish and chips in the UK
  • New York has four chippies, including the first to open, called A Salt and Battery
  • Every year, 434.8 million fish and chip meals are eaten
  • Almost 70 per cent of us prefer to eat our fish and chips at home
  • Cod is the most popular fish ordered, followed by haddock
  • One in six people eat fish and chips each week
  • Most chippy fish is sourced from sustainable waters in the Barents Sea and Iceland
  • On Fridays, 20 per cent of meals bought away from home are fish and chips.