Our readers have nominated the top 10 takeaways in Stroud, and for the next week we’ll be profiling each of them so you can choose the Stroud News & Journal Best Takeaway 2021 winner.

Simpsons Fish and Chips in Bedford Street is our penultimate contestant, which was set up in 2017 by James Ritchie.

James and his family have been running chippies for nearly 40 years, and have had a shop of the same name in Cheltenham since 2009.

With his eight staff, James has adapted his business to the Stroud area, adding a large vegan section to the menu and starting a popular gluten-free day each month.

“We’re really happy to be in the top ten and looking forward to see what happens next,” said James, who lives in Ebley.

“We’re really grateful to our customers for nominating us and for keeping us going through this pandemic.”

The chippy closed for three months at the beginning of the pandemic and James had to adapt the way was he running the business.

He shut the seating area, started a click-and-collect service and began serving people outside the shop.

“It could be a lot worse for us, we know how lucky we are that we’ve been able to stay open. It’s been a challenge but we think we’re getting somewhere with it and we’re still here so I can’t complain.”

Asked how he would feel if he and the team won, James said: “It would mean a great deal to us to get the recognition for trying to adapt and trying to provide the best service that we can for people.”

If you think Simpsons Fish and Chips should be crowned the best takeaway in Stroud, you can vote for them using a voting coupon in this week’s paper (Wednesday, February 24 edition) or next week’s (Wednesday, March 3 edition).

Or take a look at the other restaurants we profiled this week:

Once you've got your coupon, simply post it to: Stroud News & Journal Best Takeaway, Redhill House, 227 London Road, Worcester WR5 2JG.

Or you can leave the coupon with the restaurant you voted for when you collect your takeaway.

Or you can drop it through the letter box of the Stroud News and Journal office in Landsdown Road, Stroud, GL5 1BE, near the library.

Voting ends on March 7, 2021.