Industry accolade for Frydays.

A SEATON fish and chip shop has battered the opposition for the second year running to win the industry’s highest accolade.

Frydays, in The Burrow, is again the region’s only holder of the Seafish Five Star Fish Friers’ Quality Award.

It ranks it amongst the fish frying elite – the only chip shop to have gained the status in the South and East Devon area and one of only five in the whole of the south west.

And the takeaway and restaurant got a VIP endorsement when Radio 2 DJs Stuart Maconie and Mark Radcliffe, accompanied by TV star Ade Edmondson, dropped in to sample the food and present their award during a charity trek from Lyme to Beer.

A Seafish spokesman said: “Gaining a five star award for the second year in succession shows that Frydays exceed the standards set and, therefore, are one of the best in the UK.”

To win the award, Seafish inspectors assessed over 240 aspects of the business including the shop’s image, design and condition, staff training, equipment, frying and sales skills – and, most importantly, the end product. Frydays, just off the seafront, is owned by Ashley Mitchell and his wife Kathryn. The manager is Aiesha Osborne and other permanent staff members Elaine Clinch and Tracy Hellier.

Mr Mitchell said using quality ingredients, carefully prepared, was the key to their success – along with customer service and a great staff.

He said: “We only buy the best British potatoes and sustainably produced fish. The batters are all made on site and the oil filtered twice a day and changed frequently.

See more about Frydays at www.frydays.eu