Judges 2024

James O'Brien

James O’Brien is an award-winning writer and broadcaster whose journalism has appeared everywhere from the TLS to the Daily Mirror. 
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Mike Theodorou

Director at Big K Charcoal Ltd., with over 23 years’ experience supplying restaurant grade charcoal.

Shany Gupta

Founding director and CEO of Duncan Lewis Solicitors, growing it from one office to a nationwide operation.

Angus MacNeil MP

SNP MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar since 2005. Chair of the International Trade Select Committee.

Nadhim Zahawi MP

Conservative Party MP for Stratford-on-Avon since 2010.

Carolyn Harris MP

Labour Party MP for Swansea East since 2015, Deputy Leader of Welsh Labour.

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan MP

Labour MP for Tooting and Shadow Minister for Mental Health. Former humanitarian doctor and A&E doctor.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP

Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown and Shadow Foreign Office Minister.

Nigel Streeter

Managing Director of Ace4Kebabs, manufacturer and importer/exporter of doner kebabs.

Darren Bown

Sales Director for Makro/Booker, former judge of British Takeaway Awards, 30 years in food wholesale.

Metin Pekin

Founding director of Paragon Quality Foods, a leading burger and kebab manufacturer in the UK and Europe.

Matt Browne

Senior fellow at Center for American Progress. Founder of Global Progress, advisor to progressive leaders worldwide.

Sharon Hodgson

MP for Washington and Sunderland West, Parliamentary Private Secretary to Keir Starmer MP. Former Shadow Minister and Government Whip.

David Neal

David Neal is the Independent Chief Inspectors of Borders and Immigration. He reports to the Home Secretary on the effectiveness and the efficiency of the UK’s borders and Immigration system. He is a retired Army Brigadier and former head of the Royal Military Police.

Altan Kemal

Chartered Accountant, founder of Alton & Co. in 1983.

Mustafa Topkaya

Pioneer of the kebab restaurant business with 40+ years experience, runs several successful restaurants.

Alison Thewliss, MP

SNP Member of Parliament for Glasgow Central since 2015. Previously, a Glasgow City Councillor.

Lucy Horobin

Host of the Heart Dance drive time show and former presenter of the British Kebab Awards.

Adil Ray

Adil Ray OBE is best known as the star and creator of the BBC1 sitcom Citizen Khan. After five series, it is now broadcast worldwide.

Greg Jackson

Founder and CEO of Octopus Energy Group, a green energy tech pioneer with over 3.1 million customers and operations in 12 countries.

David Galman

David Galman is the Sales Director at Galliard Homes, London’s largest privately owned residential property developer. Selling real estate for over 35 years with an impressive portfolio of repeat buyers.

Samson Sohail

Samson Sohail has been working with Cobra Beer for 25 years. He has been instrumental in Cobra's reputation as the best beer to complement food and as one of the most loved beer brands in the country.

Steve Turner

Steve Turner is Assistant General Secretary at Unite the Union where he has responsibility for 400,000 members in manufacturing industries alongside the union’s community and retired members strategies.