Practical Fishkeeping's Readers' Poll 2026 winners!

The votes have been counted, and we can proudly reveal the aquatic stores that you picked as the best in the UK this year.

Even more people have taken part in the 2026 Readers’ Poll than last year! So, the first thing I want to do is thank each and every one of you for taking the time to show your support for the amazing fish shops and their staff.

These stores are so much more than somewhere that we just go to buy something, they are sources of inspiration, places to learn, ask questions, and meet like-minded hobbyists. They are often at the centre of the fishkeeping community.

The fish shops' staff dedicate their time to helping us enjoy this fantastic hobby, and your involvement in the Readers’ Poll gives us the chance to celebrate them and their achievements each year.

Now, on to the part you’ve all been waiting for! I know many of you have been eager to hear the results, as quite a few of you have been asking about them over the last few months. It’s time to get straight to it and reveal which stores have impressed the fishkeeping community this year.

Nano fish, like this Sundadanio, are now represented in the PFK Readers Poll

Practical Fishkeeping Category Results

Let’s start with the Fishkeeping category winners and runners-up, including the inaugural Nano Freshwater Retailer of the Year!

Retailer of the Year

Winner: Maidenhead Aquatics

Maidenhead Aquatics wins Retailer of the Year

Runner-up: Wirral Aquatics

Independent Retailer of the Year

Winner: Wirral Aquatics

Wirral aquatics wins independent retailer

Runner-up: Premier Aquatics

Online Retailer of the Year

Winner: Wirral Aquatics

Runner-up: Maidenhead Aquatics

Aquascaping Retailer of the Year

Winner: Wirral Aquatics

Runner-up: Premier Aquatics Runcorn

Tropheus at Premier Aquatics

Cichlid Retailer of the Year

Winner: Wharf Aquatics

Runner-up: Premier Aquatics Runcorn

Catfish Retailer of the Year

Winner: Wirral Aquatics

Runner-up: Premier Aquatics Runcorn

Nano Freshwater Retailer of the Year

Winner: Wirral Aquatics

Runner-up: Premier Aquatics Runcorn

Oddball Retailer of the Year

Winner: Wharf Aquatics

Runner-up: Premier Aquatics Runcorn

Marine Fish Retailer of the Year

Winner: iReef

Runner-up: Finest Aquatics

Sixbar angelfish at Finest Aquatics

Marine Invertebrate Retailer of the Year

Winner: Finest Aquatics

Runner-up: The Coral Company

Pond Retailer of the Year

Winner: Fishkeeper Southwest

Runner-up: Kidsgrove Tropicals

The Top 40 Fish Shops of the UK

This year, there are quite a few new additions to the Top 40, including some stores that have only opened fairly recently. They’ve clearly hit the ground running and quickly impressed their local hobbyists – keep it up!

Equally, there are plenty of familiar names that continue to excel year after year retaining their title as one of the Top 40 aquatic stores in the UK.

There are even some stores that have been around for quite a while but haven’t made it into the Top 40 in recent years. Perhaps it’s time to pay them a visit and find out what they’ve been doing differently. Have they changed up the livestock they stock, become more active on social media, or tried something else entirely?

Whatever the reason, it’s great to see them making the list. So, without further ado, here are the Top 40 stores, listed in alphabetical order:

Regional Winners

North:

Wirral Aquatics
Premier Aquatics Runcorn

Midlands:

Sedgley Road Aquarium
Kidsgrove Tropicals

West:

Emperor Tropicals
Fishkeeper Southwest

South:

Fish Planet London - Soreditch
Birchwood Aquatic Centre

East:

Aquarium Gardens
Weston Aquatics

Wales:

The Aquatic Retailer
Maidenhead Aquatics Swansea Enterprise Park

Scotland:

Fishkeeper Inverness
Fishkeeper Dundee

Northern Island:

Grosvenor Tropicals
Exotic Aquatics

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