Batter by far – Exmouth's Krispies wins another award

EXMOUTH'S Krispies has won yet another prestigious culinary award for its high-quality chips. The Exeter Road fish and chip shop was the overall winner in the South West for the Best Chippy Chips in the Choice Chip Awards for Chip Week 2012. Krispies' owners Tim and Kelly Barnes are delighted, saying it's "unbelievable", and are vowing to turn up the heat to win an even bigger prize next year...

"The Best Chippy Chips award is a credit to our staff, our team, the shop and the town of Exmouth," says Tim. "We use the best-quality oils and best-quality potatoes, and it's just dedication to preparing them and frying them at the right temperature."

Delighted with their latest culinary award: Krispies' owners Tim and Kelly Barnes
Flashback: February 2010 – Keith Chegwin presents Krispies' owners Tim and Kelly Barnes with the South West Perfect Portion Award 2010

"It's unbelievable, and I can't thank our customers enough for voting for us," says Kelly. "It really makes me proud to say we've got the best chippy chips in the region!"

Krispies' latest title comes during Chip Week 2012 (20-26 February), which recognizes and rewards quality chips being served by shops in nine different regions.

"Chip Week is a celebration of the nation's love of chips," says Kate Cox, Chip Week campaign manager for the Potato Council. "People are very passionate about their chips, which is why the Choice Chip Awards have been so popular, with over 35,000 eager chip lovers voting to put their favourite chip shop on the map."

The Best Chippy Chips award follows on from Krispies being made regional winners of the Perfect Portion Award in 2009 and 2010. And last year the Exmouth shop was a regional finalist in the Best Independent Fish & Chip Takeaway Award 2011.

Part of Krispies' continuing success is the battered chip, which remains a popular favourite on the menu. "We're also doing the 50-50 portion of both battered and regular chips," says Tim. "That's what makes us Krispies!"

So where do they go from here?

"There's another award which is the Fish And Chip Shop of the Year," says Tim. "That's the big one..."

Kelly: "The Big Fry!"

Tim: "We came top in Devon, so we're hoping next year to go in for that as well!"

Remember when Krispies won the Perfect Portion Award in 2010? It was the day that TV presenter Keith Chegwin crowned the shop with the top chip award...