Duo of awards for Sion chippy

A RENOWNED Sion Mills chippy has ‘battered’ the opposition at an all-Ireland take-away awards event and claimed two prestigious gongs.

Joe’s Traditional Fish and Chips, which is known across the district for its delectable offerings, cemented its reputation on a national scale on Monday, when it wrapped up the ‘Champion Chip’ and the ‘Take-Away Team of the Year’ awards at the ‘Yes Chef Take-Away Awards’ in Athlone.

Yesterday (Wednesday), Joe’s owner, Louise Hamilton said she and her team couldn’t be happier with the new accolades – and added that the new ‘Team of the Year’ danced the night away at the gala ceremony at the Radisson Blu Hotel.

The Yes Chef Take-Away Awards are aimed at awarding excellence in the food industry. The judging for the awards was completed after all the outlets that were nominated, were visited by mystery shoppers.

“It was amazing, so good,” Louise enthused. “It was also nice to see that everything was back to normal at the event and everyone was up dancing – we danced the feet off ourselves.

“I don’t think it’s really sunk in. It’s great to be acknowledged and everyone was delighted. They all said it was the best night ever.”

Louise made the trip south with staff members, Donna Devine, Chenise Reid, Shauna McSorley and Joanne Kelly.

She continued, “The team award means more to me because we’re like a wee family up here and it’s really nice for that to be acknowledged, in terms of how we work together and how we’re organised.

“This Champion Chip one is big as well. We were just so happy with them both. We still make our own chips fresh every day and I don’t think there are any others that do that.

“We were in for different awards these past two years. We came second for Tyrone two years in a row in the Northern Ireland Fish and Chip Awards but this is the first time we were nominated for the Yes Chef Awards.”

She concluded, “I’m very grateful for the team of staff I have. I couldn’t run the business without them – they’re brilliant. And our customers as well, obviously. We have a very loyal customer base.”