High friers! Top fish & chips

Liz Nicholls

Abingdon & Kingston Bagpuize, Amersham & Villages, Beaconsfield & Villages, Botley, Cumnor & Summertown, Buckinghamshire, Didcot, Food & Recipes, Goring, Great Missenden & Hazlemere, Henley & Watlington, Marlow, Bourne End & Cookham, Oxfordshire, Princes Risborough & Stokenchurch, Round and About, Wallingford, Wantage & Faringdon, Witney

Well done to the team at Bucks & Oxfordshire takeaway favourites Howe & Co who have been named one of UK’s 50 best fish & chip takeaways for the sixth time in eight years

If you’ve stopped to enjoy fish & chips from Howe & Co’s familiar blue & cream vans, you’ll know how delicious they are. 

So well done to Charlotte and Jamie Bachman who have owned and operated Howe and Co Van 22 & 55 since 2017.  

Since then, the business has successfully expanded from one van to two vans in 2022, serving customers across Bucks (including Thames, Lane End and Stokenchurch) and south Oxfordshire (including Wheatley, Eynsham & Forest Hill).  

This growth would not be possible without their dedicated team, which includes Kyle, Emma, Leanne, and Tina, along with many others working behind the scenes, such as Kirsty, Michael, Jan, Louise and Tony. In recognition of their excellence, Howe and Co has been named one of the UK’s 50 Best Fish & Chip Takeaways for 2025. 

It follows two rounds of mystery dining visits by leading trade publication Fry Magazine in which judges meticulously inspected aspects including food quality, cleanliness, staff expertise, value for money, ease of ordering, and social media presence. 

With the pass mark set high at 96%, Howe and Co scored an impressive 97% with the mystery diner commenting: “The van was very clean, both inside and outside. The staff were very polite, smiling, warm and friendly. The fish had been well drained and it hadn’t even soaked into the outer paper that it was wrapped in. The batter was crisp, golden and even. It was not soggy or greasy at all. I had a very good-sized portion of chips which were a golden colour and not too pale.” 

Commenting on their success, competition organiser Reece Head, , says: “Another year has passed and, once again, these shops have shown resilience, adapting to today’s challenges with remarkable dedication. At a time when inflationary pressures are being felt, these businesses continue to stay positive and prioritise their customers, maintain exceptional standards, and find innovative ways to keep fish and chips affordable. 

“Starting the year as award winners is a fantastic way for fish and chip shops to kick off 2025, setting the tone for a successful year ahead.” 

Fry Magazine’s 50 Best Fish & Chip Takeaways is in its 13th year and sponsors include Frymax, Seafood from Norway, Pukka, KFE, The NFFF, 555 Amanda Roe, Central Foods, BD Signs & BDigital, Friars Pride, VA Whitley, Henry Colbeck, Superior Frying Fat, Kerry Foodservice and Drywhite.

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