THE team at a Dodworth chippy which was recently named among the best in the country admit receiving the accolade was a ‘dream come true’.

Shaw’s Fish and Chips opened in 1979 when Dave Shaw opened the doors for the first time.

He didn’t just want to sell food; he wanted to serve excellence.

From day one, his philosophy was deceptively simple - if it wasn’t good enough for his own family to eat, it wasn’t good enough for the customers.

In 2015, the business entered a bold new chapter.

The family invested in a brand-new shop and a full-scale refurbishment - and it was also the moment the torch was officially passed to Dave’s son, Mike.

The chippy was named as the third-best takeaway in the country at the National Fish and Chip awards.

It was a rigourous process spanning five months of mystery shoppers, inspections by experts and several interviews in front of a panel and judges.

Mike says they wouldn’t have been able to do it without the hard work of all the team.

Mike said: “We are incredibly proud.

“To take my father’s vision from 1979 and see it recognised on a national stage in 2026 is a dream come true.

“This award belongs to our staff and our loyal Dodworth customers who have been with us every step of the way.

“Without the team - and there’s too many names to mention - this award wouldn’t have been possible.”