TOP kebab vans and restaurants in the county are celebrating after making to the British Kebab Awards semi-finals.

The awards, run with Just Eat and supported by the Kebab Alliance – the sector’s trade body – aim to recognise and champion kebab takeaways and restaurants across the country.

Now in their ninth year, the 2021 applications have attracted a record number of entries.

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Longlisted businesses will compete against each other and a shortlist of 10 businesses for each category will be announced by the beginning of July.

The semi-finalists all have a chance to secure one of 18 awards at a ceremony at the Park Plaza, Westminster Bridge Hotel, on October 26.

Antep Kitchen on the long list for best regional kebab restaurant and best chef.

Antep Kitchen on the long list for best regional kebab restaurant and best chef.

Antep Kitchen on Cowley Road. Picture: Oxford Mail

More than 1,200 guests, including Cabinet ministers and Shadow Cabinet members, usually attend the VIP-studded ceremony. Judges of the renowned Awards this year will include Conservative Minister Nadhim Zahawi, Labour MP Carolyn Harris, Assistant General Secretary of Unite Steve Turner, SNP MP Angus Brendan MacNeil, Conservative MP David Warburton and David Galman from Galliard Homes.

These are the top Oxfordshire kebab vans and restaurants to make it to the semi-final by category:

Best kebab restaurant regional

Atalay’s Kebab Van on North Street in Thame.

Antep Kitchen Oxford at 228-230 Cowley Road.

Kebab Van of the year

Ahmed’s bar B-Q at 90 High Street in Oxford.

Grove Kebab Van on Denchworth Road, Grove.

Hassan’s at 23 Broad Street in Oxford.

Chef of the year

Hassan Kozkiran at Antep Kitchen, 228-230 Cowley Road, Oxford.

Just Eat best delivery

Smarts Fish & Chips at 50 Market Square in Witney.

Atalay’s kebab van in Thame was crowned Kebab Van of the Year for a second year running at the 2018 ceremony, while Hassan’s Street Kitchen in Broad Street, Oxford, came second in the category that year.

Local people can get behind their favourite kebab entry by selecting their winner.

Voting is now open to the general public who select their local kebab eateries at britishkebabawards.co.uk