The UK's best fish and chip towns have been named, and a historical county dominates the list

Norfolk has just dethroned Yorkshire in one of Britain's most contested food debates - who has the best fish and chips.

New research has crowned Hunstanton as the UK's best destination for fish and chips, beating highly-praised Whitby to claim the top spot.

The UK Fish and Chip Destination Index from Simply Sea Views examined 50 coastal towns across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and compiled a top 10 list.

The areas were ranked on shop density, customer ratings, review volumes, seafront locations, independent ownership and National Fish and Chip Award recognition.

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Best destinations for fish and chips

• Hunstanton, Norfolk
• Whitby, North Yorkshire
• Hornsea, East Yorkshire
• Scarborough, North Yorkshire
• Blackpool, Lancashire
• Skegness, Lincolnshire
• St Ives, Cornwall
• Portrush, Northern Ireland
• Swanage, Dorset
• Bridlington, East Yorkshire (joint 10th)
• Penzance, Cornwall (joint 10th)

Hunstanton's victory comes down to an impressive concentration of chippies for such a small town. With a population of just 4,500, the Norfolk seaside spot is home to eight dedicated fish and chip shops, giving it the highest density of any destination in the study.

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Every single one is independently owned, and four sit directly on or next to the seafront.

Whitby, long considered Britain's spiritual home of fish and chips, secured a strong second place. The North Yorkshire town boasts the highest number of National Fish and Chip Award wins and finalist appearances of any destination analysed, with more than 13,000 customer reviews across its shops.

Hornsea also came out as a surprise success story, achieving an average Google rating of 4.48 stars, the highest in the top 10.

Yorkshire proved its dominance throughout the rankings, placing four towns in the top 10 and seven in the wider top 50, more than any other county.

The research also reignites the age-old North vs South debate when it comes to who does the best fried food. While a southern town ultimately took the crown, the North showed its strength overall, with six of the top 10 destinations located above the Watford Gap.

Cornwall put up the strongest southern challenge, with St Ives and Penzance both making the cut.

One of the clearest trends was how smaller seaside towns outperformed major resorts. The top three destinations, Hunstanton, Whitby and Hornsea, have a combined population of just 26,655 people. These smaller coastal communities consistently beat larger towns in the rankings.

CEO at Simply Sea Views, Matt Fox, said: "Everyone in the UK has a firm opinion about where to find the best fish and chips. It's one of those debates that people take surprisingly seriously.

"What surprised us most was the success of smaller seaside towns. Hunstanton isn't the first place most people would name when asked where to find the country's best fish and chips, but the data makes a compelling case.

"Whitby's reputation is absolutely deserved, Yorkshire's dominance is remarkable, and Cornwall's ratings are incredibly strong. Ultimately, what this research shows is that some of Britain's best food experiences can still be found in the small seaside towns that have been serving fish and chips for generations.

"For anyone planning a coastal escape this summer, there are plenty of destinations here worth adding to the itinerary."

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