A fish and chip shop with a secret recipe passed on by the owner’s in-laws has been given a national award.

The Swindon Fish Company in Stratton St. Margaret received a Blue Ribbon in the 2024/25 Good Food Awards.

A Blue Ribbon for Delicious Dishes, by its full name, “celebrates top-notch food, service, and value” and is based on customer ratings and votes.

Owner, Jordan Turner, said: “It’s all about the secret batter recipe.”

However, he would not say much more, adding: “It needs to remain a secret. It’s a bit of both [ingredients and preparation] - it’s like a family secret. 

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“My in-laws were in fish and chips for many years so they trained me up and taught me how to do it. Normally you just buy batter in a bag but you can make it your own.”

He said his special recipe gives his batter a better taste and texture. It is also used on his ‘onion flowers’.

This is “a battered onion, which is sliced and then open up like a lotus flower”.

The Berkshire-born business owner bought the shop in 2010 after seeking a career change and seeing fish and chips as a “solid future”.(Image: Jordan Turner)

He said: “We were very fortunate that we were the first ones to view it because it’s just a cracking big shop in a really good area, and that makes a big difference for a fish and chip shop.

“I’ve been here nearly 15 years now, so the regulars are pretty much the same every week, but you get new faces occasionally. It’s a good mixture of new and regular.”

The shop won the same award in 2020, and Jordan said: “We're really delighted to be finally recognised for our nice fish and chips we serve to people every time.

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“We strive constantly to deliver good quality with the ingredients and preparation and it all comes together and they get a nice end product.”

The shop ranked a very respectable third in the Adver’s comprehensive ranking of every fish and chip shop earlier in the year.

However, Philip’s in second place has since closed, effectively raising The Fish Company to second, just behind Lucy’s Fish Bar.

The shop is located at 152-154 Grange Dr, Swindon SN3 4LA. A regular cod costs £7.20 and a small portion of chips costs £2.80. An onion flower is £1.70.

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