Ayr’s Reel Plaice Named Finalist in National Fish and Chip Award

The Reel Plaice in Ayr has been named one of five national finalists in the prestigious Peter Hill Award 2025, organised by Middleton Foods.

The award, created in memory of the company’s late CEO Peter Hill, celebrates excellence and passion within the fish and chip industry. This year’s competition received a large number of entries from across the UK, with The Reel Plaice earning its place among the top contenders.

Ryan Baker, Sales Manager at Middleton Foods, said: “We launched The Peter Hill Award in memory of our great friend and CEO, Peter Hill. Following its tremendous success over recent years, we decided to bring it back – with a whopping £10,000 worth of prizes up for grabs! I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved with the Award – from the judges to those who took the time to enter. Once again, we have received a fantastic number of entries, and I’m thrilled to announce this year’s five Finalists; congratulations to – The Cottage Fish and Chips, Blackpool; The Friary, Beauly; Monster Fish and Chips, Fort Augustus; Grandpa’s Fish Bar, Durham; and The Reel Plaice, Ayr.”

The overall winner and runners-up will be announced by the end of October, following the final judging stage by industry experts Calum Richardson, Fred Capel and Nigel Hodgson, along with a personal visit from Nikki Williams, Field Sales Manager at KFE.

The top prize includes £1,000 worth of Middleton Foods stock, a bespoke batter mix design, training opportunities, and tickets to the Fish & Chip Shop of the Year Awards 2026.

The Peter Hill Award was established in 2023 to honour Peter Hill’s legacy and his lifelong dedication to the fish and chip trade.