Uk Award For Gourmet Chippy
At an industry awards ceremony held in London, a Ribble Valley-based mobile fish and chip operator has been named the best in the UK
A light bulb moment back in lockdown led Simon Mathews into a totally new career – swapping his job as a transport manager to becoming the most successful mobile fish and chip operator in the UK.
Simon and his wife Helen co-founders of Country Fried, recently won the Best Mobile Operator at the National Fish and Chip Awards. Having been placed in the top five in 2023 and the top three in 2024, the 2025 top spot was well deserved for the duo, who were delighted with their win which was announced at a glittering industry awards ceremony at the Park Plaza Westminster, London.
“In the run up to the winner being announced, the judges said if they could bottle the passion and enthusiasm that this company has, they would be millionaires! Then they announced that we had won. Wow!” recalls Simon, who was presented with the award by the One Show’s Matt Baker.
“I was just so pleased for Simon,” adds Helen. “He took a big risk giving up a career – it was a massive gamble.”
Country Fried was an idea Simon had back in 2020, while sitting in the garden of their family home in Langho.
“I realised our corner of the Ribble Valley was crying out for quality fish and chips. There I was relaxing in the garden and I suddenly sat up and said ‘I’m going to sell fish and chips!’ Everyone thought I’d gone crazy. I didn’t know anything about cooking fish and chips.”
Simon immediately set to work researching how he could realise his dream, training and gaining industry knowledge over Zoom with the National Fish Friers Federation (NFFF) then attending a practical one-to-one course at the NFFF college in Leeds: “I love cooking, but I’d never cooked fish and chips in my life! It was quite daunting that first time.”
After buying a van and kitting it out just like a professional fish and chip shop with a three-pan range, a bain-marie and steamer, Country Fried launched in Hurst Green in the autumn of 2020: “There was a huge queue, which was daunting. It was so intense, completely different to how I imagined it would be. I came home in tears!”
Helen adds: “We decided to simplify the menu – it was too ambitious to launch with on our opening night”
Five years later and Simon is cooking with confidence and Country Fried now has numerous village locations where it serves the queues of people who think their fish and chips are the tastiest around.
As well as doing the village rounds, Country Fried can also be seen at pop-ups, weddings and corporate events – from staff days to product launches.
“Everyone loves it!” says Helen. “At weddings we tailor the van to the couple’s themes and colours, it makes it special and provides a photo opportunity. We often get thank-you cards saying the fish and chip van was more talked about than the dress!
“Along with our customer five-star Google reviews, we have family values and take time to talk to our customers and get to know them. We pride ourselves on being a traditional chippy using traditional methods and only the freshest ingredients of the season.”
Having experimented with different batters, Simon has found the perfect one to complement the premium Icelandic haddock used by Country Fried. For the chips the potatoes are supplied by Chorley-based Jess Turner who provides the best seasonal produce: “We don’t have any secret recipes, we just use the best of the season, quality ingredients that are freshly cooked to order.”
The couple also pride themselves on the Country Fried eco-friendly ethos, which sees them using bio-degradable packaging made from sugar cane, wooden cutlery and even carrier bags made from recycled oyster shells.
Along with receiving the Best Mobile Fish and Chip trophy, Simon is set to go to London to meet the Norwegian ambassador and embark on an educational trip to Norway that will see him going out on a trawler to learn about sustainable fishing techniques.
Reflecting on their success, Helen and Simon agree: “We never imagined in our wildest dreams, that we would ever be the UK’s number one mobile fish and chip operator.
“Winning the award was an emotional moment for us, securing our recognition in a highly competitive market. It was an opportunity for us that might never come round again. We have worked, along with the help of all our staff, to make Country Fried a great place to visit. It’s been an amazing journey and we look forward to what the future holds.”
