Meet the Wakefield fish frier named among the best in the UK
Drywite Young Fish Frier of the Year is one of the toughest titles in the fish and chip industry – and Wakefield’s Jack Spencer has been named as a finalist.
Jack, 19, who’s worked at Queens Drive Fish and Chips for two-and-a-half years, will find out shortly if is he has made the top five in the competition, which will hopefully lead to him travelling to The National Fish and Chip Awards in London on February 25.\
Psychology student Jack, who is in his first year at Manchester Metropolitan University and hopes to go into teaching, was encouraged to apply by his manager, David Bell, who himself was a ‘runner up’ in the Young Fish Frier Awards in 2001.
Jack, who progressed through multiple rounds, displaying his fish on a Zoom call, before wowing judges in a Masterchef style taste test, said he really enjoys working at the chippy.
"I quite like to learn new skills,” he said.
"Going from being on the counter to running every department is a happy achievement.”
Last week, Jack was visited by Jade Botterill, MP for Ossett and Denby Dale, to see him at work.
During the visit, Jack showed her how to prep the fish, use the fryer and wrap a ‘chippy tea’.
She said: “Working in London has proved to me that us northerners aren’t wrong when we say their chippies just aren’t up to scratch.
“It was great to meet Jack and the team at Queens Drive Fish and Chips and learn how to fry up some fish.
“They really care about their food, their customers and their community, and deserve all their success.”
David Bell, co-owner of Queens Drive Fish and Chips, said: "Jack started as a nervy 16-year-old, but always strived to please and had a fantastic attitude, great work ethic, always eager to learn new skills and always willing to help whoever or however he could.
"Jack is a great team player and is thought very highly of within our work family.
"We are all very proud of Jack and are not the least bit surprised how far he has already gone within the competition.
"He'll be successful in whatever challenges he takes on in life! Keep up the hard work Jack and good things will follow. "
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