Best British kebab shops revealed at annual awards ceremony

This article was first published on the Independent on 13 March 2018.

What’s that sound? Could it be the pitta patter of Britain’s greasiest awards ceremony?

On Monday, doner devotees and falafel fans alike came together for the annual British Kebab Awards, where the country’s finest kofte kings are rewarded for their culinary contributions.

Kebab businesses from all over the UK battled it out in 16 categories in a bid to impress the esteemed judging panel consisting of food experts, entrepreneurs and MPs.

This year’s eclectic mix of judges included Capital Radio’s Tim John, children’s minister Nadhim Zahawi and shadow economic secretary Jonathan Reynolds.

The ceremony took place at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in central London and was attended by more than 1,200 guests, who were no doubt wrapped up in their finest attire to mark the occasion.

The prestigious best kebab van gong went to the family-run Atalay’s Kebab Van in Thame, Oxon, which is managed by Turkish-born Resul Atalay and his twin sons.

Atalay is famed for his homemade doner kebabs and chilli sauce made from 30 ingredients.

Best chef was awarded to Mazlum Demir for the second-year-running, who produces a unique squid ink and octopus-flavoured kebab at Skewd Kitchen in Barnet.

Elsewhere, Cobra Beer’s award for best fine dining experience went to Tarshish Mediterranean Grill in Wood Green, London.

Meanwhile, the best kebab house in Scotland title was awarded to Verdo Turkish BBQ in Edinburgh, which is renowned for using fresh, seasonal ingredients to give its kebabs an authentic Turkish flavour.

The Welsh counterpart went to Golden BBQ in Cardiff while the Northern Ireland award went to Chaska in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.

See below for the full list of winners, all of whom have done-r great job this year:

Best chef – Mazlum Demir/Skewd Kitchen, Barnet, London

Cobra Beer Best Fine Dining – Tarshish Mediterranean Grill, Wood Green, London

Just Eat Best Delivery – Irmak BBQ, Dunstable

Bira London Best Kebab Restaurant in South and East London – Cappadocia Restaurant, Kingston

Best Kebab Restaurant in North and West London – Ali’s Berlin Doner, Ealing

Ace4Kebabs Customer Satisfaction – Uni Kebab, Southampton

Best Value Restaurant – Gokyuzu, Harringay, London

Best Kebab House in Wales – Golden BBQ, Cardiff

Best Kebab House in Northern Ireland – Chaska, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh

Best Kebab House in Scotland – Verdo Turkish BBQ, Edinburgh

Best Newcomer Kebab House in London/Outside London – Pircio, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire

Best Takeaway Regional – Master Kebabs, Gillingham, Kent

Alton&Co Best Takeaway in London – Joint winner: Wallington Express, Wallington & Greek On The Street, Croydon

Big K Best Kebab Restaurant Regional – Turknaz Restaurant, Whitley Bay, Northumberland

Best Supplier Award – Holland Bazaar, Enfield, London

International Restaurateur Honorary Award – Cuneyt Asan, Dubai

That’s a wrap, folks