A TYNE Valley fish and chip shop has been named among the top 50 takeaways in the UK. 

Dhillons Fish Inn, at Throckley, is a popular destination for locals and visitors to the area alike. 

Now it has been named among the top 50 fish and chip takeaway outlets in Fry Magazine's 2021 awards. 

Elsewhere in the North-East, Carlo's at Alnwick, Northumberland, was also named in the top 50, as was Fisherman's Bay, at Whitley Bay, and Smith's Chippy, South Shields. 

Fry Magazine also named its top 10 best mobile fish and chip units. 

Following an unannounced mystery dining visit, shops and mobile units were marked on over 40 aspects of their business, from the quality of the food and customer service to their social media presence and their Covid safe practices.

The food remained the main focus, with all outlets assessed on the flakiness of the fish, the crispness of the chips and the crunch of the batter, alongside value for money.

And even despite the challenges and restrictions posed by Covid, entrants didn't let standards slip with the benchmark to pass set at 97 per cent for takeaways and 92 per cent for mobiles - the highest in the awards’ history.

Reece Head, competition organiser, said: "Without doubt, the last 12 months have been tough for fish and chip operators and many will not have dealt with this level of crisis management before.

"Allowed to operate during the pandemic, there was a lot they had to implement in a very short space of time to operate in a Covid safe manner.

"Many takeaways had to flip their businesses to click and collect and delivery, serve at the door, introduce card payments and work in much smaller teams.

"Likewise, mobile units introduced pre-orders and added new routes and additional vans to keep the nation fed.

"During a time of uncertainty, these operators have helped maintain a sense of normality.

"They’ve been at the heart of their communities, with a smile on their faces and hot food in their hands.

"And the fact that we’ve had our highest pass mark ever is testament to their hard work and dedication, and we would like to congratulate each and every one."