A BRADFORD fish and chip shop where "customers enter as strangers and leave as friends" is competing to be named T&A's Best Chippy.

Chapel Fisheries (McKinleys) in Queensbury is one of 10 fish and chip shops hoping to win the competition. 

The T&A received 2,237 nominations for the contest through our online voting platform, and we are currently in the process of profiling the finalists in print and online.

This Chapel Street chippy has been serving the community for 16 years under husband and wife team Scott and Helen McKinley.

Over the years, the shop has experienced its fair share of struggles in the face of major changes in the industry

"It has been all or nothing," Scott told the T&A. 

"When we first opened fish and chips were £2.80, now we are still fairly cheap at £8.10. 

"Two or three years ago, we were thinking of packing it all in because the price of the produce - it trebled in price.

"You don't want to be putting your prices up too much because you fear people will not come through your door.

"We had to put it up by like 10p, 20p a time. We had to do it to survive.

"Other shops did not come out of it on the other side, but we struggled to get through."

Scott is proud to serve traditional fish and chips with his own homemade batter, cooked in beef dripping.

He added: "There were times where at the end of the week we came away with no money.

"Luckily we were in a position where we did not need a lot of money to survive.

"We got through it but a lot of people didn't."

The owners credit their loyal customers for sticking with them through the difficult moments.

Helen said: "I am proud of what we have achieved.

"We have been here a lot of years and the customers still come back so we must be doing okay.

"They come not only for the quality of the food, but the banter. The fun, friendly atmosphere that we provide, we get close to them.

"We have people who come from afar. Even if they have moved away, they call in to have their dinner and come to see us.

"It's like our customers enter as strangers but they leave as friends. It feels like we have another family."

She added: "We are a close village who do try help each other out in any way that we can.

"I would like to thank all our customers for their support down the years.

"It has been hard work because we have had some good times and bad times."

To vote for your favourite, pick up a copy of the T&A and fill out the coupon, which will be available until Saturday. The overall winner will be announced on Monday, June 24.