A Thai restaurant in Royston has been named among the best takeaways in the south east at the Just Eat Restaurant Awards.
The Guard House in Kneesworth Street has been shortlisted among three other establishments in the region.
The restaurant was opened as a takeaway and home delivery service in the middle of the pandemic by 26-year-old Royston entrepreneur Safwaan Choudhury.
At the end of November last year the restaurant opened its doors for customers to dine in, following a soft launch.
Safwaan said: "It’s very exciting and rewarding to receive recognition for our hard work.
"The main motivation behind opening The Guard House stemmed from my frustrations during the first national lockdown. I wasn’t able to find a restaurant locally that delivered good quality, authentic Thai cuisine.
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"This led me on the adventure to open my own Thai restaurant in my hometown, with a focus on promoting and popularising fresh and authentic royal Thai cuisine to enjoy in the comfort of one’s own home.
"It has been challenging at times, as Thai food isn’t as popular as other takeaway choices – such as Indian, Chinese or pizza."
The Guard House will now compete with winners across 11 other regions to be named 'Best Takeaway in Britain'.
In its first year the eatery won 'Highly Commended Thai Restaurant of the Year' at the Asian Curry Awards 2021, and was shortlisted among the nation's top 10 Thai restaurants in 2022.
The restaurant is Grade II Listed with dining areas spread across two floors, and dates back to the times of King James.
Safwaan's business partner Rung Kuajaroon, who is managing director at The Guard House and has more than 25 years experience in the catering industry, explained that she plans to introduce a private dining area upstairs to accommodate larger party bookings and private functions.
She said: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers for all your support throughout the pandemic and current cost-of-living crisis."
National and regional award winners will be revealed at a ceremony at The Londoner Hotel in Leicester Square on Tuesday, February 21.
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