Regional champions announced

Uber Eats UK has unveiled the nine regional champions competing to be named the country's best restaurant in its Restaurant of the Year Awards. The winners were chosen through a public vote from a shortlist of independent restaurants across the UK, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.

Each regional champion will now compete for the national title and a share of the prize fund. Representing the North West is Liverpool-based Nashville Cluck, which serves hand-breaded fried chicken made with Nashville spices and house-made sauces.

Khalid Yafai, director at Nashville Cluck, said: "We're really proud to be this year's North West regional winner. It's been four years since we launched Nashville Cluck, and we've always focused on making our food different and unique. We're looking forward to September and showing the judges what authentic Nashville buttermilk chicken is all about."

Nashville Cluck first opened in the Georgian Quarter in October 2022 with the hopes of creating the "perfect" chicken burger. At one point, the business served more burgers than McDonald's on Uber Eats, according to the Liverpool Echo. The brand can be found throughout Merseyside, including at the Baltic Market, Townfield Lane in Wirral, Concert Square, and its latest opening on Duke Street last year.

The competition and prizes

The Nashville Cluck team will compete in a two-day live cook-off in London next month, with a judging panel led by comedian, podcaster, and food enthusiast Ed Gamble, who co-hosts the Off Menu Podcast. The Liverpool business previously represented the entire region at the 2024 annual Uber Eats Awards.

The winner will receive £100,000 to invest in their business. All nine regional champions will also receive £5,000 and a bespoke Uber Eats UK growth package. This year, marking five years of the Restaurant of the Year Awards and 10 years of Uber Eats in the UK, the prizes for second and third place have also increased to £25,000 and £10,000 respectively.

The nine regional champions

The nine regional champions are:

  • Shimlas (Bradford) – a Punjabi-style restaurant chain known for authentic curries, signature kebabs, and traditional recipes.
  • Gurt Wings (Bristol) – a multi-award winning fried chicken shop known for ultra-crispy, hand-breaded wings and signature homemade sauces.
  • Coqfighter (Central London) – founded by three friends, offering Korean fried chicken, grown from pop-ups into multiple restaurants.
  • Jinseon (Coventry) – offering an authentic Korean BBQ experience with high-quality meats and traditional marinades.
  • Piatto (Glasgow) – serving authentic Italian comfort food, including freshly made pasta and artisanal pizzas.
  • Ragin Bird (Leicester) – serving bold-flavoured fried chicken, loaded burgers, and fiery sides made fresh to order.
  • Nashville Cluck (Liverpool) – serving hand-breaded fried chicken with Nashville spices and house-made sauces.
  • Junglees (North London) – founded in 2021 by former City lawyer Nomaan and his business partner Hamza, serving freshly cooked burgers with premium ingredients.
  • Brorritos (South London) – inspired by Mexican street food, delivering burritos, tacos, bowls, and sides.

Uber Eats on the awards

Merve Basci, general manager of Uber Eats UK, said: "Independent restaurants are the beating heart of the UK's food scene and that shows when the public rally behind their local spots. ... The Restaurant of the Year Awards are about more than claiming the title alone. They're about investing in the people who are championing hospitality right across the UK and helping them accelerate their growth."