A NEWPORT fish and chip shop is in the running to be named Britain’s Best Chippy and win £1,000.

Pie Corner Fish Bar, on High Cross Lane, Pye Corner, is believed to be the only Gwent chippy to have entered the P&G Professional’s Britain’s Best Chippy competition which aims to celebrate local chip shops.

The family-run business is owned by Beatrix Hughes, John Hughes, Julia Hughes and Richard Kovac.

“I just went online and filled out all of the details,” explained Miss Hughes. “I was really surprised that by chance we were the only ones from Gwent to have entered.”

Staff at the fish and chip shop, which opened in June last year, hope its attention to customers’ needs will gain them more public recognition and more votes.

“We have unique aspects in our shop, we serve gluten free food every day as well as vegetarian chips,” she said. “A lot of shops fry everything in the same oil which limits vegetarian customers and people with allergies.

“We use only the best boneless, skinless cod which a lot of people comment on. We are constantly conscious about the quality of our food and using the best ingredients. We also have a professional chef, Phillip Harding.”

If they win the cash, staff want to use it to do something good in the community, said Miss Hughes, adding that the shop bought a Newport Super Dragon for charity.

Organisers of the competition, which is based on online votes, will announce a winner in the next 28 days. Voting has now closed.