Chippy up for T&A award is traditional by name and nature

A CHIPPY up for a T&A award has a “special relationship” with customers and is a place for old friends to meet.

Bolton Junction Traditional Fish & Chips, in Eccleshill is one of 10 fish and chip shops from across Bradford in the running for the T&A’s Best Chippy 2024 competition.

We have received 2,237 nominations for the contest through our online voting platform, and we have now come to the end of profiling all 10 chippies that were shortlisted.

Leon, who runs the fish and chip shop with wife Kelly and a small team, said: “We are deeply honoured to have been nominated by our esteemed customers.

“Whether we win or not, we would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you.”

Bolton Junction Traditional Fish & Chips, in Eccleshill (Image: UGC)

The building has been a chippy since the 1940s, according to Leon.

The couple took over more than 20 years ago and after a period of adaptation, the duo managed to get to grips with it.

Leon said: “We have been in the food business since we left school. We have previously owned restaurants and takeaways.

“So, when the opportunity came up with Bolton Junction we saw it as a new challenge.

“It wasn't easy at first but with my background as a chef and Kelly's experience in the restaurant industry, we were able to grasp the business quickly and that was over 20 years ago.”

Traditional is in the name and nature of this shop – something Leon and Kelly have focused on maintaining.

They fry in beef dripping, buy fresh bags of potatoes that are peeled and chipped every morning.

Potatoes and chips at Bolton Junction (Image: UGC)

Leon said: “Our fish is from the ice-cold water of Iceland and prepared every morning.

“The same with our fishcakes which are made from 100 per cent minced fish fillets.”

This isn’t just about quality ingredients and food though, Bolton Junction Traditional Fish & Chips is a place where people can have a good chat, and sometimes even reconnect after many decades apart.

Leon said: “We have a special relationship with our customers and know the majority by their first name.

“We are not just a fish and chip shop but rather like a mini community centre.

“A lot of our customers know each other and often run into each other in our shop."

We have now profiled all 10 of the finalists and today is the last day you can vote for your favourite.

Today will be the final day a coupon will appear in the T&A, so if you want to vote, make sure you grab a copy and fill it out.

The winner will be announced on Monday, June 24.