Deliveroo, the leading food-delivery company, has today announced that its annual Restaurant Awards are back for 2021, revealing over 400 amazing restaurants and grocers from across the UK and Ireland that have been longlisted across 22 award categories.
The awards, first launched in 2019, were created to celebrate the best restaurants — and more recently, grocers such as Aldi, Co-op, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Morrisons — available on Deliveroo across the UK and Ireland. From today, the public can vote for their favourite restaurants and grocers in the longlist and help to crown 22 restaurants as winners.
In 2020, over 100,000 food-lovers cast their vote online, and this year, volumes are expected to be even bigger. The British public have until Monday 27 September to vote for their favourites in the longlist via the Deliveroo Restaurant Award 2021 website and each vote will be entered into a prize draw for a chance to win £500 Deliveroo credit.*
In early October, Deliveroo will reveal the top six restaurants that have been shortlisted in each category, as voted for by customers. Voting will re-open again for one final chance to vote for the winners of each category, which will be announced online on 15th November during the virtual Deliveroo Restaurant Awards 2021 held on Deliveroo’s Instagram and Twitter channels.
The food-delivery company is encouraging restaurants, grocers and customers to vote and tune-in to see who will take home the 22 trophies, including the coveted Restaurant of the Year Award voted by a celebrity panel of judges, yet to be revealed. Last year this award was presented by Maya Jama, Vogue Williams, Riyadh Khalaf and Will Shu, Deliveroo's CEO and Founder.
For 2021, Deliveroo has increased the number of award categories to celebrate even more foods and cuisines, and ensure more restaurants can take home accolades after a rollercoaster year. In total there are 22 award categories, including new awards such as Best Essentials, Best Meals Under £10, Best Mexican Restaurant, Best Sushi, Best Kebab, Best Fine-dining Restaurant, Best Salads and Bowls, as well as repeat categories, including Best Burger, Best Pizza, Best Vegan Restaurant, Best Indian Restaurant, and Best Eco-friendly Restaurant.
Will Shu, CEO of Deliveroo, said: “Celebrating our incredible restaurant and grocery partners has never been more important. We are launching our third annual Deliveroo Restaurant Awards to shine a light on the very best food the UK and Ireland has to offer, from high-street favourites to local gems. With new categories, and over 45,000 restaurants and grocers in the running, this year’s awards will be bigger and better than ever. We’re calling on the public to celebrate their favourite restaurants and grocers by casting your vote and supporting these great businesses.”
In 2020, Greek restaurant The Athenian bagged the prestigious title of ‘Restaurant of the Year’ beating out tens of thousands of restaurants and takeaways across the UK. The restaurant, which originally started out as a small street food venture, took home the award after being praised by judges for their support of the NHS, donating over 2,500 meals to the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic and giving a 50% discount available to all NHS staff, as well as a weekly care package for their employees.