Did you vote in this year’s British Takeaway Awards? Have you been getting behind our lovely shortlisted businesses – and now finalists – from right here in the South West?
Well…the time is almost upon us for this year’s awards ceremony, which takes place on Monday, December 5th in London – and at which one of the five shortlisted takeaways in our region will be named the best in the South West – and will also compete for the coveted title of best takeaway restaurant in Britain.
As South West Ambassadors for the 2016 British Takeaway Awards, we’ve already introduced you to the regional shortlists and given you a little bit of background about each of the 10 shortlisted South West takeaways. For the final, that list of 10 has been narrowed down to just five – and here – in no particular order – is who will be competing on the night.
Marmaris Kebab & Pizza, Barnstaple
The kebab shop and pizzeria make all of their dough fresh each day, and use fresh ingredients for their toppings which include everything from pepperoni to spicy beef and tandoori chicken. The popular kofte kebabs are made using co-owner Mete Sevinc’s grandmother’s recipe, and the takeaway’s delicious chilli sauce is handmade using only natural ingredients.
Every menber of staff – including drivers – has been trained to take orders and serve on the counter, and is encouraged to share new ideas to help to strengthen the business. Customers are also placed at the heart of the business – to the extent that staff will even give them lifts home if they’re unable to get a taxi.
Owner Mete Sevinc says: “We are so happy to be a finalist at the British Takeaway Awards, particularly since it’s a public vote. Within our town, there are six other kebab shops but many of our customers are loyal to us due to the consistently high level of food and the friendly staff.”
Smokey’s American Grill, Trowbridge
Husband and wife team Simon and Kelly Llewellyn launched Smokey’s American Grill three years ago, serving up American dishes such as slow roasted pork belly ribs, hotdogs and its special Man V Food Burger. Their meat is bought fresh each day from local award-winning butchers Walter Rose, and everything is spiced, flavoured and slow-cooked in-house. Opening hours have been known to change (they open earlier or later on the request of customers), and they support the local community in a number of ways.
Co-owner Kelly Llewellyn says “We are over the moon to be a finalist at the British Takeaway Awards. We put our life and soul into the business. We’re honest, hard-working and put pride and effort into everything we do. We use local produce so that we can support other local businesses around us, and it would mean so much to us to win! We’re currently in the middle of opening another Smokey’s in Warminster. On top of all that, I’ve had a baby, so we’ve been growing in more ways than one. So to win this award would top off an amazing year.”
Minnie’s Eatery, Exmouth
Minnie’s Eatery has now been around for over 17 years and has become a popular favourite in the local area. Offering over 20 pizza varieties with a choice of 5 bases (plus a “make your own” option), the menu is varied and all food is oven-cooked and never fried. The team support a number of local and national charities, pride themselves on their customer service and treat their team as family.
Co-owner Joyce Devaney says “We are delighted to be a finalist at the British Takeaway Awards. We’ve worked hard over our 17 year history to exceed customer expectations, it’s the most important element of Minnie’s strategy. We have customers who are loyal to Minnie’s, even when we have had national pizza chains or new takeaways open. They come back to us because we are all about the food and our customers”.
Gurkha’s Kitchen, Stoke in Plymouth
Gurkha’s Kitchen uses traditional Nepalese recipes developed by founder Usha Giri’s grandmother. All dishes are made-to-order and cooked fresh daily and ingredients are sourced through local suppliers where possible. The restaurant has hosted a number of charity events including auctions and raffles, as well as donating to the Nepal Earthquake Appeal after many of Usha’s friends and family lost their homes in the disaster. Their expansion since they first opened in 2012 has led to the hiring of more people from the local area too.
Owner Usha Giri says “We are proud to provide delicious Nepalese food and a great customer service that has won hearts of many customers all over Plymouth. We’ve only been open two years so getting to the final of the British Takeaway Awards and top five in the South West is a real achievement for us.”
Nacho Cheese, Trowbridge
Family-run Nacho Cheese began life in 2012, and uses high-quality ingredients: fresh meat from the butcher and vegetables from the local food market. They are famous for their create-your-own Burrito Bar, and renowned for their homemade bottled sauces available in five varieties including Cajun and Smokin’ Chipotle, which they offer for use within the restaurant or for customers to purchase. Food is made-to-order so the eatery can accommodate allergy and dietary requirements, and their aim is to exceed customer expectations. They work with local schools to teach about Mexico, sponsor local sports teams and this year have refurbished their new restaurant, while keeping the takeaway open and moving it under the same roof.
Owner Lorraine Priestley says “We are over the moon to be a finalist for the British Takeaway Awards, particularly since it’s a public vote. We have a brilliant relationship with our customers, not just front of house but often they’ll pop their heads into the kitchen to say hello to our chefs. We’re a close knit community and cannot thank the people of Trowbridge for voting for us.”
Good luck to all the finalists – here’s hoping for a best takeaway in Britain winner from our neck of the woods on Monday night!