Fish Tea wins favour on a good night for Perthshire

A Pitlochry fish and chip shop which prides itself on a ‘secret’ recipe has been honoured again at Scotland’s national fish and chip awards, on a good night for Perthshire eateries.

McKays Fish and Chip shop landed the Highly Recommended Best Fish Tea prize at the Hilton in Glasgow on Monday night for its lauded traditional speciality.

The gong follows on from last year’s award haul which included Best Chip Shop in the North East.

This year, the Highland Perthshire eatery was switched from the North East category to an even stiffer field in the Central Scotland grouping, which included big names such as 2024 People’s Choice winner, Anstruther Fish Bar.

However, McKays still found favour with judges including celebrated Italian chef, Aldo Zilli, battling it out with ten other chippies.

Consistent prize-winner

The Atholl Road establishment has been a regular winner since the inauguration of the competition, also winning Highly Recommended Best Fish Tea in 2023.

“We were delighted to be finalists again for the third year in a row and to land the award is further testimony to the team,” said McKays General Manager, Alec Summers.

“We use the finest quality ingredients including our ‘secret’ batter recipe. We choose fish which is sustainably sourced and we cater for diverse tastes, from vegan customers to gluten free.

“The fish in our Fish Tea is is a single cut 6-8oz fillet, lightly dusted in flour, and dipped in our secret recipe and cooked until golden brown.

“Customers have a good idea of what they want in a Fish Tea and we always try to give them that.”

Perthshire chippies win big

The glittering ceremony has become a fixture in the nationwide fish fryers’ calendar, showcasing the best chippies and fish suppers in Scotland.

McKays hope to be back in the prizes next year.

“We are always looking to maintain standards and ensure our regular and first-time customers have a great experience.”

Other Perthshire chippies on the podium were the Central Fish and Chip Shop in Kinross which won best chippy in the Central Belt- a huge achievement.

Dunkeld Fish Bar and the Fish and Chip Company in Auchterarder also landed Highly Recommended prizes on the night.