Chippies batter it out for Ulster's top title

By Linda McKee – 18 October 2007

Two chippy owners are vying for the right to represent Northern Ireland at the Fish & Chip Shop of the Year competition 2007.

The Golden Cod in Ballynahinch and Tommy's of Ballykelly have been named the two best chippies in Northern Ireland in the UK-wide awards organised by industry body Seafish.

Golden Cod owner Darren McGuinness and Dominic Hassan of Tommy's in Ballykelly will compete to win the regional stage and go on to battle nine other hopefuls for the title of UK champion.

Regional finalists will be announced in early November and the national winner will be presented with the overall winner's crown by Ainsley Harriott at a in January at the Royal Garden Hotel in London's Kensington.

Darren said: "We are really excited to have got to this stage. It is a great reward for staff to be recognised for all the hard work they put in throughout the year."

Meanwhile, Dominic said he was delighted to have reached this stage in the competition.

He said: "The staff have worked incredibly hard to maintain our high standards and I am overjoyed to have come this far."

Runners-up in Northern Ireland included The Chippy in Antrim; The Frying Squad in Belfast Road, Bangor; The Frying Squad in Balloo Road, Bangor; Flash in the Pan in Magherafelt; and the Genoa Café in Warrenpoint.