A PUDSEY chippy has been named as one of the best in the UK.

The Bearded Sailor, based in Robin Lane, has been named as one of the UK’s 50 Best Fish & Chip Takeaways 2022/23.

It follows two rounds of mystery dining by leading trade publication Fry Magazine in which an anonymous judge sampled the food and assessed key aspects of the business from the cleanliness of the premises to staff knowledge and professionalism to social media presence.

With the pass mark set high at 95 per cent, The Bearded Sailor scored an impressive 99 per cent.

The mystery diner said: “The fish was perfectly cooked and perfectly battered. The batter had a great flavour.

“The fish was excellent. It tasted very fresh and was perfectly cooked.

“The staff were completely focused on the customers. All stuff looked very presentable.

“There was an exceptional range of food available. This outlet even sold desserts and merchandise. It was very impressive.

“The chips were perfect. They were large and perfectly cooked being fluffy in the middle with the crispy outside.”

Alex Papaioannou, owner, of The Bearded Sailor, said: “It is an absolute honour to make this national list amongst some of the country’s best fish and chip shops.

“This is 100 per cent down to the hard work and dedication of the team and deserve all the credit for this.

“They just did what they do day in day out - cooked the food perfectly and focused on giving the customer the best service.

“I see this every day at the shop, it makes me so happy that the judges have seen this and recognised how good they are.”

Reece Head, competition organiser, said: “Once again we’ve had another year where it’s simply got harder to operate a fish and chip business, with rising energy, labour and ingredient costs taking a heavy toll.

“It’s not easy but operators are working harder and smarter, staying ahead of changing tastes and behaviours and adapting accordingly.

“It is with great pleasure that we congratulate The Bearded Sailor on being one of the UK’s 50 Best Fish & Chip Takeaways.”

The accolade comes after The Bearded Sailor missed out on the top prize at the National Fish and Chip Awards 2023 at a ceremony held in London earlier this month.

The chippy had initially been named in the top 10 in the country.