THE owner of a Bradford district fish and chip shop - which is one of the finalists in the T&A's Best Chippy 2024 contest - has told of his pride at his thriving business.

The T&A received 2,237 nominations for the competition through our online voting platform. The list has now been whittled down to the final 10 - and we aim to profile all of them during the coming days.

Longley's Fisheries Wilsden - formerly called Village Fisheries Wilsden - is one of the top chippies seeking to win.

Owner Andrew Longley took over the shop on Main Street, Wilsden, in 2012. 

"I came in blind but luckily the previous owners taught me a lot - and I have a fantastic team who I've learned so much from over the years," he said.

"It's all worked out very well."

In total, six people work at the fish and chip shop.

"My daughters help on the counter along with a couple of other young ladies who all work extremely well together," Andrew said.

"Without the team we have, we wouldn't be in the running for the award. 

"The staff are a big part of this family-run chippy and I'm a big believer that people should enjoy going to work - so we always have fun and banter while here."

Andrew said his business has many "wonderful, loyal" customers who are more like friends. 

He added: "We have customers travel some distance to come and get their fish and chip fix, and we have been known to have customers order up to 10 of our cakes so they can freeze them once they have gone home.

"But nothing beats the couple from America who took fish, chips and a cake all the way back to Florida with them.

"They even sent us a picture of them eating them in their garden!"

He added: "I believe Longley's is a big part of our local community. 

"We serve meals to local pubs, workplaces and Scouts and Brownies, and at Wilsden Primary School as a treat for students who've completed their SATs.

"We were lucky enough to win the T&A's Best Chippy award in 2020. 

"To win it again would be an amazing achievement for us all here - but we have some brilliant competition. 

"Good luck all."

  • We aim to profile all of the finalists during the coming days. To vote for your favourite, pick up a copy of the T&A and fill out the coupon.