AN ABERDEENSHIRE fish and chip restaurant has been identified as the best in Scotland in a new competition.

The Quayside Restaurant and Fish Bar in Gourdon is the only Scottish representative in the UK's Top 10 in the 2020 National Fish and Chip Awards overseen by Seafish, the government quango set up to improve efficiency and raise standards across the seafood industry.

lt will now compete against nine other finalists for the coveted title of the ‘UK’s best fish and chip restaurant’ at an awards ceremony in London on January 23.

READ MORE: Cromars in St Andrews named Scotland's top fish and chip shop

The restaurant, formerly known as Hornblowers, was awarded the Best Seafood Week Campaign Award as part of the 2019 National Fish & Chip Awards.

Marcus Coleman, Chief Executive at Seafish, said: “The UK is world-renowned for fish and chip takeaways, but there are plenty of incredible restaurants serving tasty, healthy fish and chips to sit in customers day in day out.

" We have 10 of these exceptional restaurants represented in this list. Each is a credit to our industry and we wish them all good luck in the final round of judging.”

Award sponsor Alan Pearce, field sales manager at Goldensheaf, added: “These top 10 restaurants have proven themselves to be focused on providing the best sit in fish and chips dining experience available in the UK today.

"Each of them excels in a number of different areas from the quality of food they offer through to their commitment to sustainability and the way in which they support and develop their staff.

READ MORE: Scottish chippie scoops title of Best UK Fish and Chip shop of the Year award

"Any one of them would make a worthy winner, best of luck to them all.”

The other nine are:

fish! Borough Market, Borough Market, London

Fish City Belfast, Belfast

Knights Fish & Chip Restaurant, Glastonbury, Somerset

Malt and Anchor, Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Saltwater Fish Restaurant, Torquay, Devon

Something Else Fishy, Milborne Port, Sherborne, Dorset

The Fisherman’s Wife, Whitby, North Yorkshire

Trenchers Restaurant, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear

The Cod's Scallops, Nottinghamshire