Meet the team working at St Helens’ top ‘plaice’ for fish and chips

The Nelson Chippery is the “top plaice” in St Helens for everyone’s favourite fried food and has just scooped this year’s Best Fish and Chips award – something they’re all hugely proud of.

In April, we launched our Best of 2024 competition.

This year’s search for St Helens Star’s best in a whole host of categories started with hair and At Gems was crowned our first winner quickly followed by Burchall’s and their pies and Nails by Mandy took the best nails title.

Next up, The Moss Bank is officially Best for Roast Dinners, we toasted Cinema Bar for their cocktails and Shakey J’s serves up the area’s best breakfast.

Then we moved onto fish and chips with customers and readers sending their nominations and votes for their favourite plaice to get the perfect Friday night treat.

Voting for St Helens’ Best Beer Garden is currently taking place and we’re also looking for nominations in our latest search - Best for Fitness.

Vote for St Helens’ Best Beer Garden 2024

Nominate your favourite for St Helens’ Best for Fitness 2024

Twelve fantastic fish and chip suppers in St Helens made the shortlist with The Nelson Chippery taking this year’s coveted crown.

The award-winning fish and chips

Stephen Lawler, who lives locally in Moss Bank, opened The Nelson on Bridge Street in 2015 – he is company director and the owner is Jean Lawler.

Stephen, who is 36, said: “We are a pub / restaurant / chippy all rolled into one in the town centre - all the food is prepared from the chippy.

“We are an iconic traditional pub with the twist of having a chippy alongside.

“We are a huge sports bar and extremely popular when Saints games are on - both home and away.

“The pub features 13 huge TVs as well as a projector screen.

“The pub is always busy during the daytime with many people taking advantage of our fantastic fish and chips.

“The pub also has a large 80-seat function room which can cater for events and is available to hire.”

The chip shop next to the pub was a huge bonus for Stephen and one of the reasons he wanted to take over at the pumps at The Nelson.

Stephen said: “We believed it to be a niche market - having a pub with a chippy alongside.

“It appeals to all demographics and we have many loyal customers who visit us weekly.

“We have had several venues over the years.

“We have The Moss Bank, which won Best Roast Dinner last month, and we opened The Duke of Cambridge in Duke Street yesterday, Friday.

“We are committed to providing great venues in our hometown that have a great atmosphere and good food and we’re dedicated to employing local people.

“We see ourselves as a family and love to serve our local community.

“Having a traditional chippy incorporated within a very busy town centre bar is a big selling point.”

The Nelson and The Nelson Chippery on Bridge Street

The Nelson Chippery serves traditional fish and chips as well as pizzas, burgers, steaks, light bites and Sunday roasts.

They also have all day breakfasts and sandwiches as well as desserts on the menu.

What do customers think of The Nelson Chippery? Why did they think the venue deserved to win our latest Best of 2024 title?

One happy customer said this place is simply “incredible”.

Another said: “It’s fab and the fish is beautiful every time.”

Stephen said: “The feedback we receive from customers is that we serve delicious food that is reasonably priced and good beer in a warm and ambient setting.

“We also cater for all live sports with three Sky TV boxes so customers never miss any of the action.

“All our staff are committed to providing excellent customer service and we will always promote good food and beer at great prices that come with a warm welcome.

“Seeing customers meet up and have a good catch up with friends or family in our place and leaving with a smile on their face is great.

“We always welcome customers – old and new.”

The Nelson's all day breakfast is a big hit with customers

Stephen added: “We were elated to make the shortlist for St Helens’ Best for Fish and Chips and cannot thank our loyal customer base enough for nominating us.

“To hear that we’d won is amazing.

“We are thrilled and it is fitting recognition for all the hard work our team puts in, day in and day out.

“There are many fantastic venues across our great hometown so to be voted the best makes us all very, very proud.

“We need to say a huge thank you to all who voted - rest assured we are committed to getting even better and improving the customer experience.

“We look forward to seeing all our customers - old and new - in the near future.”