A Penrith family business is celebrating after its popular Chippie Van was named one of the three best mobile fish and chip operators in the UK.
The Chippie Van has made it through to the final three in the Mobile Operator category of the National Fish and Chip Awards 2027, putting the local business in the running for one of the industry's biggest national honours.
Run by father and son Dave and Dan Harding, The Chippie Van has become a familiar sight in communities around Cumbria, serving traditional fish and chips from its mobile takeaway.
The family is also behind two well-known Penrith fish and chip shops, the award-winning Angel Lane Chippie and Sandgate Chippie.
The latest recognition is another feather in the cap for the Penrith business, which has already enjoyed success in both regional and national industry awards.
The National Fish and Chip Awards, organised by the National Federation of Fish Friers, recognise the best businesses in the industry, with operators judged on everything from the quality of their food and customer service to innovation and standards.
Making the final three puts The Chippie Van among the very best mobile operators in Britain, with the family now hoping to go one better and bring the national title back to Penrith.
Co-owner Dan Harding said: "We are absolutely over the moon to have made it into the Top 3 in the whole country!
"To be recognised on a national stage alongside some of the very best operators in the industry is a huge honour, particularly when the standard of competition is so incredibly high.
"Running a mobile fish and chip business comes with its own unique challenges, but our team works tirelessly to deliver the same high standards of quality, freshness and customer service wherever we trade.
"What makes this achievement even more special is that we're a small, family-run business from Penrith, competing against the very best in Britain.
"We're incredibly proud of our team, who work so hard every day, and hugely grateful to our wonderful customers and the local communities who continue to support us. Without them, none of this would be possible.
"Now we've got our sights firmly set on bringing that national title home to Cumbria!"
The Chippie Van will now move on to the next stage of the competition, with further details of the judging process still to be announced.
For the Harding family and their team, it's another proud moment for a Penrith business that has gone from serving fish and chips to local communities to competing for a national title against some of the best in the business.
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