Restaurant that had 'hundreds of cars queueing' sends message to customers
The 25-year-old manages several venues just outside of Liverpool, including in Widnes and Warrington. However, it is the entrepreneur's Newton-le-Willows premises that has got everyone talking as of late. This particular restaurant is competing to be named best in the North West. The company is hoping to walk away from this year's Uber Eats Restaurant of the Year Awards £100,000 richer.
However, Aros and his team will have to beat off competition from Liverpool's The Bagelry, Woffle, Maggie Fu and Beak, as well as a handful of other venues around the region.
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The former University of Manchester student told the ECHO what the nomination meant to him. He said: 'This is our third year being nominated, so it feels good. We are staying consistent, but we are coming for the win this year.
'It's amazing to see the smiles on people's faces when they try our food. It makes me happy to see how my food makes others happy. Everything we do is for the customers. It's amazing news for us.'
Aros moved from his home country to the Netherlands with his family when he was just one-year-old. He then moved to the UK, specifically Warrington, in 2016.
A few years on and during lockdown he started his company. Aros said it came about after he couldn't find food he wanted to order and so decided to start making his own.
The founder said after hundreds of cars would be outside his house once a month as he began offering food to others. Such as the success has allowed him to established the brand so many know and love today.
He said: 'I wanted to bring diverse food to Warrington and give the place something to be proud of. We have a diffusion of different ethnicities to create soul and comfort food. It has always been more than just food for us.'
Now in its fourth year, the Uber Eats awards recognise the incredible contributions of small and independently run restaurants to their local communities and the food industry.
Joining the judging panel are some of the most recognisable names in food culture today, such as entrepreneur and musician Levi Roots, Irish celebrity chef and TV host Clodagh McKenna and last year's standout winner, Natty Crutchfield, whose restaurant went from cult hit to national fame.
This year, one standout restaurant will be crowned Restaurant of the Year, winning £100,000 to invest in their growth. All finalists will also receive a £5,000 prize and a tailored support package from Uber Eats to help boost their business.
Uber Eats has also launched the Next Gen Trailblazer Award, a new honour designed to spotlight hospitality entrepreneurs under the age of 27 who are innovating, inspiring, and disrupting the food scene. The winner will receive a £10,000 business development grant and support package. The new award will be judged by content creator and author Seema Pankhania.
General Manager of Uber Eats UK, Ireland and Northern Europe Matthew Price said: 'The Restaurant of the Year Awards are not just celebrating restaurants, we're investing in the future of food. The new Next Gen Trailblazer Award is a bold step in backing the young innovators who are rewriting the rules of hospitality'.
Uber Eats is once again inviting the public to nominate their favourite local restaurants online. With over 130 restaurants vying for the top spot, this year's competition promises 'fierce culinary showdowns, community-driven passion, and the chance for underdog eateries to rise to national prominence'.
In addition to the grand prize, Uber Eats will be recognising restaurants and individuals across five other categories:
Women in Food Award
Climate Impact Award
Healthy Eats Award
Social Impact Award
Next Gen Award
Over 60% of restaurants on the Uber Eats platform are small or medium-sized businesses, and last year's winner, Natty's Jerk in Portsmouth, has launched new locations and gained national recognition since being crowned Restaurant of the Year last October.
2024 winner Natty Crutchfield said: 'Winning Restaurant of the Year was life-changing. We've grown faster than we ever imagined, and we're proud to be part of a community that supports independent businesses.'
The awards ceremony will take place in Here at Outernet in London in 2025, where all regional winners and trailblazers will gather to celebrate their achievements, alongside media, industry leaders and special guests.
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