A TURKISH restaurant in Christchurch has been nominated for the British Kebab Awards 2024 for the third year in a row.

First opened in 2022, Meram Kitchen in Christchurch High Street has been recognised by the Great British Kebab Awards since its first year of business and is proud to celebrate that it has been once again.

A family business owned by a father and two sons, Erhan Kircal, Veli Kircal and Eren Kircal, the restaurant is proud to be recognised once again and hopes to finish above its second place last year.

Veli said: "It's a big achievement from nothing to becoming second in the whole of the UK. Everyone's been supportive about it and it's a good feeling, honestly, it means a lot to us.

"They're very particular about who they choose and who gets nominated."

Although yet to win the award for serving the best kebab in the country, the restaurant did win best newcomer in 2022.

Still relatively new to the area, Veli said the restaurant business was not a new trade for the family with his grandad also in the business.

He said: "My granddad came into this country and had his own kebab shop. He was the first person to have a kebab shop in Southampton.

"He has one in Gillingham in Kent and that's what put my dad's and my uncle's into the food industry.

"We said, let's come together, open our first family restaurant, start with a different name and go from there."

Veli said they new plans to expand and hopes in the new future to open a few chains in the area.

Although keeping quiet about where the other restaurants might be, he did confirm they would be in Dorset.

He said: "It was challenging but we've now settled down, we've got our name out there. 

"We get locals and customers from far away. We had customers come all the way from Nottingham."

The awards night will be held on February 27 at Park Plaza Westminster Hotel in London.