Ten Bucks fish and chip shops went head-to-head to battle it out for the top spot in the Free Press’ Best Chip Shop 2021 competition.

We revealed the top 10 favourites as voted for by you last month and asked you to pick your go-to chippy.

Whether it’s their perfect pies, crispy golden batter, succulent chicken or fluffy chips, you have been voting in your hundreds for your ultimate favourite using the coupons in the BFP this month.

The wait is finally over – we can reveal that the winner of the Best Chip Shop 2021 competition is South Hill, in Holmer Green.

The shop, which owner Yun Xue says has been in the village for 45 years, has been crowned the best in the county by readers, with New Garden Fish Bar, in High Wycombe, taking second place and The Harbour Fish & Chips, Flackwell Heath, coming in third.

Mr Xue said he was “quite surprised” when he learnt his shop had taken the top prize, saying: “We didn’t expect to win. Thank you so much to all our customers. We are very happy.”

He took over the premises around five years ago and says they get in plenty of regulars from the village, as well as some recent new faces.

Mr Xue also spoke to the BFP about the struggles of takeaways during the first lockdown – when he had to shut shop for five to six weeks – and how he feels the business has “come back stronger” in the face of adversity.

He said: “We did the best we could for our village. We got in all the protection we could and it’s been really good for us.

“It has picked up in the last few months but the heat hasn’t been easy these past few weeks.”

Speaking about when he found out South Hill had been named the best be BFP readers, he said: “The first thing I thought was I was really surprised. It’s going to be even harder work for us now to keep up the standards.

“We just want to provide a good service for our customers and we will be working even harder to do that.

“Thank you to our village for supporting us. The village and customers are always so friendly.”