A SOUTH Lakeland fish and chip shop has been named as one of the best 50 in the country – just over a year after the business was rebuilt.

Frydays of Kendal owners Martin and Janice Dickens had to start from scratch after their New Road premises were gutted by Storm Desmond.

But their hard work has paid off with success in the first competition the business has ever entered.

FRY Magazine sent mystery diners to all the entrants to its Best Fish and Chip Takeaway 2017 competition to judge everything from the quality of food to the manner of staff.

Frydays was awarded a 100 per cent score for its food and a 95 per cent overall rating, placing it in the top 50 – one of only two in Cumbria.

“We entered it in November not thinking anything about it, yet here we are in the top 50. We’re really proud,” said Mrs Dickens.

The mystery diner only docked points for trivial matters such as name badges not being worn by staff and the telephone not being answered quickly enough.

“It’s all the staff who have earned this,” said Mrs Dicken. “It’s been a real team effort and a big achievement so we’re absolutely buzzing.

“We totally rebuilt the shop. We took it all the way back to the bricks. Everything was taken out and replaced, it was a case of starting all over again. It’s absolutely paid off.”

n Meanwhile, Fish Over Chips, at Grange-over-Sands, has been named in FRY Magazine’s top 10 Fish and Chip restaurants in the country.

Farrah Sanbrook, daughter of owners Sharon and Robert Sanbrook, said the accomplishment had come as a huge surprise.

“We’ve never really bothered with competitions before so it was a nice surprise,” she said. “We had 100 per cent for food, service, cleanliness and everything.”