The Great British Hakeaway! Simpsons & Hirds Come Out on Top

The Great British

Simpsons & Hirds Come Out on Top

By Camille Allcroft

Freelance Food and Drink Writer The industry was once again in the spotlight recently, when family – run Halifax fish & chip shop Hirds Family Fisheries were crowned joint winners of BBC television show, Britain’s Top Takeaways.

Hirds Family Fisheries is located in Siddal, Halifax and they were one of five fish & chip shops to take part in the show – which was hosted by DJ Sara Cox and comedian Darren Harriot. They were up against

Simpsons Fish & Chips, Cheltenham

Tony’s Fish & Chips, Coatbridge

The Posh Fish & Chip Company,

Llandaff, Cardiff

Chris’s Fish & Chips, Barwell Each episode of the show focused on a different takeaway food and the brief was to create a menu including main courses and side dishes. Adam and Amber devised an innovative menu for the show, cooking up dishes such as ‘chef’s classic posh fish butty’ (haddock goujons in parsley and lemon batter), fishcake with Grimsby smoked haddock and chorizo (in panko breadcrumbs with homemade pesto mayonnaise), ‘dirty’ chips (with chorizo, pepperoni, mature cheddar, parsley and peri mayonnaise) and halloumi fries (made with local smoked Yorkshire Dama cheese, in panko breadcrumbs with harissa mayonnaise). Vegetarians and vegans were also in for a treat, with a vegan dish of homemade pie with shortcrust pastry, filled with chestnut mushrooms, potatoes and fresh rosemary and served with vegan gravy and chips. Each course was delivered to the ‘judges’, members of the public from the local area.

Ultimately, Hirds Family Fisheries were awarded as winners of the fish & chips episode of the show, alongside Simpsons – Adam Hird commented “it was a huge honour for us to represent our industry on a television show and to be the only fish & chip shop in Yorkshire selected to take part. We put so much thought into our menus and we are constantly coming

up with new dishes – for example, we put our own twist on traditional classics such as pies. We also love using local Yorkshire produce. Being on the show was an unforgettable experience, we filmed in Manchester for 13 hours on one of the hottest days of the year last summer. I was delighted to have my daughter Amber by my side competing on the show, she is an instrumental part of our family business and she delivers a youthful perspective and energy. We are so thrilled to have been awarded joint winners of the show.”

Amber Hird commented “this was the opportunity of a lifetime, and we are so proud to have taken part. We were delighted to be awarded as joint winners of the show, it is truly great to gain that sort of recognition.”

Hirds Family Fisheries is operated by Adam Hird, his wife Alison, daughter Amber and son Aiden. Adam worked in hospitality for many years, before the family opened their own fish & chip shop just over ten years ago

Hakeaway!

The Posh Fish & Chip Company, Llandaff, Cardiff

Chris’s Fish & Chips, Barwell

Hirds Family Fisheries Siddal, Halifax Simpsons Fish & Chips, Cheltenham Tony’s Fish & Chips, Coatbridge