London Chicken Shop Triumphs at Inaugural Fried Chicken Championships
In a celebration of crispy, golden-brown excellence, a London establishment has been officially recognised as serving the finest fried chicken in Britain. The prestigious title was awarded at the first-ever Fried Chicken Championships, held earlier this week in the capital city.
Victory for 20ft Fried Chicken
The honour goes to 20ft Fried Chicken, which operates from locations at Market Halls on Oxford Street and in Paddington. The team secured this coveted accolade on January 20th during the groundbreaking culinary competition that brought together the nation's top poultry purveyors.
A fiercely contested cook-off saw 14 finalists from across the country showcase their skills at Big Penny Social in Walthamstow. Each competitor presented their signature dishes to a panel of expert judges, who sampled an array of burgers, wings, and nuggets in search of perfection.
The Winning Creation
What particularly captivated the judging panel was 20ft's Hot Chicken Burger, described as truly 'wowing' the experts. This triumphant creation features tender double-fried chicken thighs complemented by a distinctive combination of flavours.
The burger's composition includes:
- Habanero hot honey mayonnaise
- Crisp pickles for texture
- Vinegar-based slaw
- The restaurant's signature spice blend
- Specialty hot sauce
All these elements come together between two soft sesame buns, creating what has now been officially recognised as Britain's finest fried chicken offering.
Experience Behind the Excellence
While this marks the inaugural year for the Fried Chicken Championships, 20ft's owners are no strangers to culinary recognition. Founder Stewart Down, who also established the acclaimed Black Bear Burger, expressed his delight at the achievement.
Down described himself as 'over the moon' and 'super stoked' to see 20ft receive this honour. He praised the exceptional quality demonstrated by all finalists, noting the 'first-class' standard of chicken presented throughout the competition.
Beyond the victory itself, Down highlighted the positive atmosphere of the event, observing that 'there is a real sense of camaraderie with all of the different restaurants and traders' involved in this new culinary celebration.
Other Notable Performances
The competition also recognised other standout establishments, with Chick'N'Sours and Butchies sharing second place honours. Fortune Fried Chicken from Spitalfields Market secured third position in the overall rankings.
Additional category winners included:
- Best Loaded Fries: Awarded to Killa Waffles in St Albans
- Bloggers' Choice: Selected by influencer Kate Ovens, who chose Butchies
- Perfect Platter Award: Won by Sides, the brand owned by popular YouTubers the Sidemen
This inaugural event has successfully established itself as a significant new platform for recognising excellence in Britain's vibrant fried chicken scene, with London's 20ft Fried Chicken emerging as the first champion in what promises to become an annual celebration of poultry perfection.
