Harlees Fish and Chips director Richard Long has taken part in an educational study trip to visit the western shores of Norway.

The trip was part of a prize won by the Verwood chippy when it was named as one of the top fish and chip shops in the UK at the 2023 National Fish & Chip Awards, headlined by Seafood from Norway.

Joined by eight other category award winners representing the best of the best in British fish and chips, Richard visited the port city of Ålesund to discover the facts surrounding one of the largest cod stocks in the world.

As a fellow ocean nation, Norway is a supplier of sustainable seafood to British consumers, with a long-standing relationship providing a bounty of cod and haddock for Brits.

Richard said: “The National Fish and Chip Awards are extremely important to our business. We use it as a benchmark to see where we are heading and it’s great to be judged by people who don’t know you but are experts within the industry.

“Winning this award has meant an awful lot to me personally. One of my goals has always been to get a national award, but to win best multiple operator has been fantastic. I’m third generation and took on the business 25 years ago from my dad – I just wish he could have seen me win, as he would have been really proud.

“The trip to Norway was absolutely amazing. I have such love for this country, the seafood, the people, the culture – it really is the pinnacle of a seafood nation.”

Harlees operates four locations in Dorset, Poole Quay, Verwood, Swanage and Corfe Mullen, as well as takeaway and restaurant sites across Wiltshire.