The Real Food Cafe Wins Sustainability Award at Fish & Chip ‘Oscars’

Scotland’s iconic roadside cafe, The Real Food Cafe in Tyndrum, has been recognised on the UK stage after winning the Environment and Sustainable Business Award at the National Fish & Chip Awards 2026. 

The 38th annual awards, organised by the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), are viewed as being the ‘Oscars’ of the fish and chip industry. The UK’s official competition for the sector, the awards involve a rigorous judging process including interview rounds, operational assessments, skills tests and anonymous taste testing.

The Environment and Sustainable Business category recognises operators that demonstrate responsible sourcing, sustainable business practices, employer integrity, and a long-term commitment to environmental best practice.

Sarah Heward, Owner of The Real Food Cafe, said: “Sustainability underpins every decision we make, from how we source our ingredients to how we look after our team, our community and the area around us. To be recognised nationally for that is so incredibly meaningful for me.

Running a rural hospitality business comes with a unique set of challenges, particularly in the current climate, but we’ve always believed that thinking long term, supporting local suppliers and investing in our people is the only way to build something lasting that people love.”

Sarah added, “This has been a journey of continual improvement and learning for us, with the aim of reducing our carbon footprint and protecting our beautiful natural environment. What makes me most proud is the collective effort behind it. Our team have embraced sustainability in their day-to-day work, our customers have got behind our waste-reducing initiatives, and our incredible volunteers give up their time to collect tonnes of litter from the area.

I’ve also made significant investments in energy-efficient equipment and building improvements, and share my experience and learnings in public talks and webinars with other businesses where possible. Recently, we’ve introduced a Heat Recovery system that should save over 6 tonnes of carbon per year and reduce our energy bills.

All of these actions have made a real difference, from reducing waste and lowering energy consumption to improving efficiency and creating a cleaner, more beautiful local environment. It has boosted pride and motivation across our team, and we’re so delighted to hear that our work is inspiring others in the sector too.

Living and working in the National Park is a constant reminder of why sustainability matters. Our environment is incredibly precious, and we all have a role in protecting it. We’re now working with the Energy Saving Trust and Stirling Council on a proposed heat-recovery system that could cut our energy use by 20%.

We’re also trialling new measures to reduce chip waste, such as collecting and weighing all the leftover chips with a view to reducing portion size and offering extra if customers feel they need more.”

Situated in Tyndrum, on the West Highland Way and just before the A82 splits to Oban and Fort William, The Real Food Cafe serves thousands of visitors travelling through Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park and into the Highlands each year.

The business has built a reputation for high-quality, responsibly sourced food, award-winning fish and chips, a strong selection of vegetarian and gluten-free options, and is committed to community and team development, receiving a listing in The Caterer’s Top 30 Best Places to Work in Hospitality in the UK for the past three years.

Commenting on this year’s awards, Andrew Crook, President of the National Federation of Fish Friers, said the 2026 edition had been one of the most complex for judges to separate the winners. “We don’t make it easy to progress through the assessments, as benchmarks are always set extremely high. This ensures shortlisted businesses and individuals truly know about serving superb quality meals for customers and they are contributing to the growth of sector by innovating where possible, investing in their operations and people, and being exceptional advocates for the trade. Fish and chip businesses are the backbone of the takeaway space; the heritage is like no other, and our winners represent tradition and the future to the highest degree.”

The 2026 awards were hosted by TV presenter and actor Stephen Mangan, with Seafood from Norway as principal sponsor.

For The Real Food Cafe team, bringing a national sustainability award back to Scotland marks a significant milestone as the business enters its 21st year and continues to champion quality food, responsible practice and the very best in Scottish hospitality.