Deniz Kılınç / London, March 4 (HNA) – The British Kebab Awards, a long-revered industry event for kebab restaurants across the country, and sleeper hit amongst Westminster regulars roared into its eleventh year in the Park Plaza Hotel, Westminster.
Guests donated in droves to the newly launched Donate a Doner Campaign, which is sponsored by the kebab awards. Donate A Doner is a fundraising campaign to encourage the British public to give that extra support by donating the cost of a doner kebab to the British Red Cross, via the Donate a Doner fundraiser.
We eat a staggering 1.3m doners a day in the UK, and the average price of one starts at £5. If we all bought an extra doner, we would raise over £45 million in a week. Donate a Doner are working on the fundraiser with CEFTUS (Centre for Turkey Studies) and the British Kebab Awards. Via the British Kebab relationships, they are connected with 20,000 kebab shops in the UK who will be encouraging their customers to donate too from next late next week onwards, creating an on-the-ground and a real-life mechanic to donations.
How to Donate
Four ways we would like people to get involved
1. Donate online via either www.donateadoner.com or to The Sun appeal with the British
Red Cross
2. Purchase a doner kebab from one of our kebab shops involved in the fundraiser and donate
while you wait using the in-store QR code
3. Share on social media using @donateadoner and #donateadoner.
4. Spread the word!
Spotted on the night were MPs Angela Rayner, Nadhim Zahawi, Paul Scully, Steve Baker, Sajid Javid, and a whole host of other journalists, parliamentarians and members of the kebab-loving public.
As a nation, we’re proud of our locals. Our local kebab takeaways and restaurants are the beating hearts of our high streets and now, more than ever, kebabs are becoming part of our daily lives. From once being seen as a humble late-night snack after a night out in the town, they are now enjoying a glow-up and revolution as part of a sit-down meal with family and friends, a quick healthy lunch, or a delicious takeaway on the way home from work. This year the Kebab Awards raised money for the Donate a Doner Campaign, providing relief after the tragic earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
Ibrahim Dogus, founder of the British Kebab Awards and Director of the recently formed Kebab Alliance, commented:
“Kebab eateries are a key part of the local community and it’s great to see so many entries at the end of a year that has tested every business operating in the hospitality sector. Winning the Kebab Awards is a huge achievement given the competition across the country and all outlets should be rightly proud.”
Mark Finch, Director, UK Account Management, Just Eat, headline sponsors of the awards said:
“It’s a real honour for Just Eat to once again support the British Kebab Awards. After an undeniably difficult time for the hospitality sector, there’s never been a better time to recognise and celebrate the resilient and hard-working individuals across the kebab industry, who are making an invaluable contribution to their local community and the UK economy. Huge congratulations to all the winners and finalists on their incredible achievements.”
Lord Karan Bilimoria, Chair of Cobra Beer, said the following:
“I congratulate all the nominees and winners of the Kebab Awards. They are an inspiration to us all and particularly to the younger members of the kebab industry families, who I am sure will be inspired by these awards and will aspire to achieve themselves in the future. On behalf of everyone here at Cobra, I would like to thank you all for your years of support. With many thanks and congratulations to Ibrahim Dogus and all the Kebab awards team. The kebab industry is one which is close to our hearts, and I look forward to celebrating our future success, together.”
Eatplanted, Sponsors of the British Kebab Awards’ first ever Best Vegan Kebab Category, said:
“We’d like to congratulate all winners and nominees for this year’s British Kebab Awards. It’s been a wonderful opportunity for us to sponsor the first-ever plant-based kebab category and we really enjoyed giving out samples to all the entrants. With plant-based kebabs peaking in popularity, we’re hoping to become the brand of choice when it comes to plant-based kebabs and appeal to a wider flexitarian fan base. You may even see us soon in Beelzebab… watch this space!”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, left the following message for the awards:
“I am delighted to extend my best wishes for the 11th British Kebab Awards. Hospitality in all its forms plays a critical role in supporting our economy as well as communities and high streets right across the UK. Kebabs are as much a part of our culture and heritage as fish and chips and curries, reflecting our broad diversity and our nation’s love of food.
“I know it has been a very difficult few years, but I am confident that the sector can and will play a leading role in the UK’s recovery, and help us deliver the growth we want to see right across the country.
“I hope that this year’s event provides an excellent opportunity to build on collective expertise and passion and to honour those who continue to work hard within the food industry. I would like to pay tribute to the excellent British Kebab Awards winners and nominees and wish them, and the entire industry, my warm congratulations and every success for 2023.”
The Leader of the opposition, Sir Keir Starmer, left the following message:
“Best of luck to everyone competing in this year’s Kebab Awards, it is one of the most celebrated, and popular events in the industry calendar! Contributing over £2.8 billion annually to the British economy and supporting around 200,000 jobs within the restaurant, suppliers, and food industry in the UK, it is a truly British institution. I know that those working in the service and catering industry are facing tough times, particularly during this cost-of-living crisis. The increases in energy costs, rising food prices and staff shortages are testing your businesses’ resilience and highlighting your ingenuity. We’ve seen how 12 years of chronic low economic growth has left us exposed, meaning that businesses of all sizes have to adapt when they want to thrive. My Labour Party is a pro-business and pro-worker party. We have the plan to back British business and get our economy growing again. I know, that a stable and secure economy is built by championing the talent and efforts of millions of hard-working people and thousands of businesses like yours.
“A Labour Government will replace business rates with a system that is fairer and will cut business rates for small businesses. Our plans will save the average high street independent thousands of pounds. During this time of economic uncertainty, I want to thank the tens of thousands of restaurateurs contributing greatly to their local community and the fabric of British society, providing a valued service to communities up and down the country. I hope you have a fantastic evening and congratulations to the winners.”
The Winners of the British Kebab Awards 2023 are:
Best Greek restaurant and/or takeaway
Fig Tree Grill
Tony’s Pita
Best Kebab House in Northern Ireland
The Sphinx Glengormley
Best Kebab House in Scotland
Shawarma King
Mr Chef
Best Kebab House in Wales
Wales Kebab
Best Kebab Restaurant in North and West London
Divan Restaurant Ocakbasi
Yaprak Eastcote
Cobra Best Kebab Restaurant in South and East London
Cyprus Mangal
Lara Grill
Best Kebab Restaurant Regional
Pasha Turkish Grill Restaurant (Milton Keynes)
Sark Restaurant
Jewish News Best Kosher Shawarma restaurant and/or takeaway
Reubens Restaurant
Best Lebanese restaurant and/or takeaway
Beit El Zaytoun
Best Newcomer Restaurant in London/Outside London
Cappadocia Restaurant – Epsom
Kaya Meze bar
Anar Turkish BBQ Restaurant
Best Takeaway in London
Kervan Saray
Best Takeaway Regional
Zem Kebab
Master Kebabs
Irmak BBQ Dunstable
Best Value Restaurant
Alacati Grill – Turkish & Mediterranean Cuisine
EATPLANTED
Best Vegan Kebab Restaurant or Takeaway
Beelzebab
Chef of the Year
Fatma Gungor/ Fatma’s Kitchen
Kemal Coskuncay/ Private delicacies ltd
Customer Satisfaction
La’De Kitchen Pangbourne
Turkuaz
Toast Fine Dining Restaurant
Paparazzi
Dem Shish Restaurant & Cocktail Bar
Just Eat Best Delivery
Millennium Pizza and Kebab
Kebab Van of the Year
Gourmet kebab
Supplier and Manufacturer Award
AVANT (Natural Mineral Water Navson Limited)
Directors Award
Cafe Istanbul
Charcoal Grill Winner