283 finalists named for the 15th British Kebab Awards

LONDON, 21 October 2026 — The finalists for the 15th British Kebab Awards have been announced: 283 businesses across 22 categories. They were selected from a record semi-final field of almost 500 businesses after more than 6,000 nominations and over 40,000 public votes.

From Inverness to Plymouth and Belfast to Ashford, finalists span every nation and region of the UK. They represent an industry worth over £2.8 billion a year to the British economy, with more than 20,000 outlets supporting around 200,000 jobs and serving an estimated 1.3 million kebabs every day.

The finalists were selected through a process combining the public vote with an independent panel’s assessment, including food-hygiene standards. The panel met in London this month to review the strongest semi-final field in the Awards’ history. This year’s judges include Jonathan Reynolds MP, Dawn Butler MP, Nadhim Zahawi, Sir Gavin Williamson MP, Sir Andy Cooke, Kate Nicholls of UKHospitality, Rory Sutherland and Sam McAlister.

The ceremony at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge will welcome around 1,200 guests, including parliamentarians from across the political divide, industry leaders, national media and businesses of every size — from independent high-street restaurants and family-run takeaways to larger groups. People travel from across the UK to take part. The evening will begin with a drinks reception at 5.00pm, followed by dinner and the awards ceremony at 7.00pm.

Now in its 15th year, the British Kebab Awards has grown from its first celebratory dinner in 2013 into one of the most established events in the Westminster and hospitality calendars. The awards have attracted cross-party support from successive Prime Ministers, party leaders, government ministers and MPs, who have attended, spoken at and championed both the awards and the industry they represent.

That political support has been matched by the business community. Over the past 15 years the awards have been supported by some of the country’s best-known food and drink brands, including long-standing headline partner Just Eat, alongside Cobra Beer, Coca-Cola, McCain and Unilever, among hundreds of other organisations. Cobra Beer returns as a partner for the 2027 awards.

Ibrahim Doğuş, Founder of the British Kebab Awards, said:

“Congratulations to all 283 finalists. Reaching the final is a significant achievement, and this year’s finalists reflect the talent and hard work of the whole industry — from independent family businesses to larger restaurant groups. More than 6,000 nominations and over 40,000 votes show how strongly people support these businesses. The Awards bring people from every part of the UK to Westminster and have become one of the largest, if not the largest, cross-party events of the year. I look forward to celebrating with everyone on 23 February.”

Samson Sohel, Head of Global Sales, Cobra Beer – Molson Coors, said:

“The British Kebab Awards has been a great initiative for the Turkish food industry. It provides a fair platform for hardworking individuals and businesses to gain recognition and earn the confidence of consumers. I would personally like to thank Ibrahim Doğuş and his team for dedicating their invaluable time and effort to supporting and promoting the kebab industry. We are incredibly proud to have supported the British Kebab Awards for over 10 years and look forward to continuing our support in the years ahead.”

The competition now enters its final stage. Public voting continues for all finalists until 31 January 2027, and the independent Panel of Judges will reconvene in the first week of February to determine the winners in each category. Finalists are being encouraged to keep the momentum of their campaigns going — celebrating their achievement locally, engaging customers through social media, contacting local newspapers and food writers, and inviting their local Members of Parliament, councillors and community leaders to support them.

The public can view the full list of finalists and vote for their favourite businesses at www.britishkebabawards.co.uk. Tickets and tables for the gala ceremony are on sale now. Magazine advertising, sponsorship and partnership opportunities are available through the website.

ENDS

Notes to editors

About the British Kebab Awards: Founded in 2013 by restaurateur Ibrahim Doğuş, the British Kebab Awards celebrate and champion the restaurants, takeaways, business owners and employees behind one of Britain’s most popular dishes. The awards are organised through CEFTUS.org.

Finalists and final-stage voting: 283 finalists across 22 categories were selected from a semi-final field of almost 500 businesses through a process combining the public vote with an independent panel’s assessment, including food-hygiene standards. Public voting for finalists continues until 31 January 2027. The independent Panel of Judges will reconvene in the first week of February 2027, and the winners will be announced at the gala ceremony on 23 February 2027.

Industry figures: The economic, employment, business and consumption figures quoted in this release are widely cited industry estimates and should be attributed as such.

Awards ceremony:
15th British Kebab Awards
Tuesday 23 February 2027
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London
Drinks reception: 5.00pm
Dinner and awards ceremony: 7.00pm

Voting: www.britishkebabawards.co.uk
Tickets and tables: myeventticket.org/event/15th-british-kebab-awards
Partnerships: www.britishkebabawards.co.uk

Media enquiries:
Araf Bin Tarek
Head of Operations, British Kebab Awards
Telephone: +44 7585 674599
Email: [email protected]
High-resolution photography, regional finalist angles and interview requests available on request.