Britain just hosted the Oscars…for KEBABS – and these are the winning shops and vans from across the country
Diners voted in their droves ahead of The British Kebab Awards, which aims to find the best in the UK
IF you thought the Oscars was the biggest awards ceremony to take place last night, think again.
While the world gasped at THAT epic Moonlight - La La Land gaffe, Brits were busy celebrating a more culinary-themed special occasion - The British Kebab Awards.
The fifth annual ceremony, held at the prestigious Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in London, celebrated the best doner dishes from around the country.
With 1.3 million kebabs being sold every day across Britain, it's safe to say the hallowed meal is more than just a late night blowout.
Kebab fans from across the country voted in their droves for the awards, sponsored by Just Eat, with winners hailing from Glasgow to London.
Seventeen kebab shops took home silverware, in categories ranging from Best Kebab Van to Best Fine Dining Restaurant.
The winner of the kebab van award went to Atalay Kebab Van in Thame, Oxfordshire, while Veyso's in Hertford was awarded best Fine Dining Restaurant.
The event was hosted by BBC Radio 1 DJs Chris Stark and Scott Mills, with high profile guests including politicians Andrew Percy MP, Barry Gardiner MP and Simon Danczuk MP.
People took to Twitter to express their enthusiasm for the Kebab Awards, with many suggesting the Oscars didn't come close.
Host Chris Stark tweeted: "Hosted the British Kebab Awards tonight. F*** the Oscars."
Related Stories
The complete list of winners at the British Kebab Awards 2017
1. Just Eat Best Delivery
Winner: I am Doner, Leeds
Highly Recommended: Irmak BBQ, North Dunstable
2. Customer Satisfaction
Winner: Kosk, Edmonton
Highly Recommended: Koz Mediterranean Restaurant, Beckenham
3. Best Newcomer Restaurant/ Takeaway in London
Winner: Tarshish, Wood Green
Highly Recommended: Bababoom, Battersea
4. Best Newcomer Restaurant/ Takeaway outside London
Winner: Elder and Wolf, Whitley Bay
5. Best Kebab House in Northern Ireland
Winner: Sphinx Glengormley, Glengormley
6. Best Kebab House in Wales
Winner: Mezza Luna, Cardiff
7. Best Kebab House in Scotland
Winner: Alla Turca, Glasgow
8. Best Kebab House Regional
Winner: Meze Mangal, Bushey
Highly Recommended: Akdeniz Turkish Restaurant, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex
9. Best Takeaway Regional
Winner: Ellesmere Port Kebab House, Ellesmere Port
10. Best Kebab Restaurant in North and West London
Winner: Gokyuzu, Haringey
Highly Recommended: German Doner Kebab, West Ealing
11. Best Kebab Restaurant in South and East London
Winner: The Meze Bexleyheath, Bexleyheath
Highly Recommended: Efes Restaurant (Brick Lane), Whitechapel
12. Best Takeaway in London
Winner: Pizza King Kebab House, Edmonton
13. Best Value
Winner: The Iskele, Shoreditch
Highly Recommended: Grand Bazaar, Marylebone
14. Chef of the Year
Winner: Mazlum Demir (Skewd Kitchen), Barnet
15. Fine Dining Restaurant
Winner: Veyso's, Hertford
16. Kebab Van of the Year
Winner: Atalay Kebab Van, Thame, Oxfordshire
17. Outstanding Contribution
Winner: Prime Quality Foods, Enfield
The UK’s first kebab shop, Istanbul Restaurant in Soho, opened during the Second World War and you will find pictures of it in the Imperial War Museum in London.
However, it was not until 1966 that the famous doner kebab - cooked on a vertical spit - first appeared with the opening of the Hodja Nasreddin Kebab House run by Çetin Bukey and Kojay Hüsey in North London’s Newington Green.
There are now over 20,000 kebab outlets in the UK selling around 2,500 tonnes of lamb and chicken doner a week.
There are also around 200 doner kebab manufacturers in the UK, with a turnover in excess of £750m.
Ever wondered why you can’t resist a burger or kebab after a boozy night out? This is the reason, according to science.
Earlier this month we revealed celebrity chef Jamie Oliver wants a role in EastEnders as a kebab shop owner.