One of Liverpool’s most celebrated chefs, Masterchef Kemal Coskuncay, recently brought his passion for food and hospitality to the House of Commons, where he addressed leading figures from across the UK hospitality industry. The multi-award winning chef, of Casa Rima in Halewood, emphasised the need to protect and support hospitality businesses.
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The special reception, held under the patronage of Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle, was part of the British Kebab Awards, an annual event recognising the cultural and economic importance of the kebab sector in the UK. Masterchef Kemal, originally from Turkey but based in Liverpool, has won Chef Of The Year at the prestigious awards on two occasions.
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In his address, Masterchef Kemal spoke powerfully about the need to protect the UK’s hospitality sector, which continues to face mounting challenges. He stressed that restaurants, pubs, bars, and hotels require greater government support to withstand the pressures of rising costs, from VAT and payroll taxes to soaring energy bills.
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“We need to be allowed to focus on what we do best — cooking,” he urged. “‘Let us cook’ instead of dragging us down with the pressures of unsustainable costs. It’s a tragedy to see so many great businesses closing their doors. The hospitality sector is worth billions to our economy and employs millions of people — we cannot allow further decline.”
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Kemal also emphasised the importance of supporting UK farmers, encouraging hospitality businesses to source meat and fresh produce locally and stressing that the government needs to give farmers a break. “Farmers are the backbone of our food system, and they need more help from the government,” he said — giving reference to local Halewood farmer Olly Harrison.
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The event was attended by prominent Members of Parliament including Gareth Smith, Dawn Butler, Chi Onwurah, Gavin Williamson, and Edward Morello, all of whom echoed the importance of the hospitality industry as both an economic driver and a cultural force. The reception gathered together some of the most influential figures in the sector, including:
- Mehmet Nezir Korkut, SME Labour Party Board Member and owner of Great British Doner in Manchester
- Paul Foster, MP for South Ribble, Lancashire
- Kemal Coskuncay, Liverpool’s award-winning Masterchef
- Chef Faruk Yavuzel from Cardiff
- Ibrahim Coskuncay, Liverpool hospitality leader
- Halil ‘Harry’ Olgar, owner of Zem Kebabs in High Wycombe
- Dr. Rupa Huq, Labour MP for Ealing Central and Acton
- Vatan Oz, international journalist from Avrupa News
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Event organiser Ibrahim Dogus, founder and director of the British Kebab Awards, praised the hard work and resilience of those in the industry: “Kebab restaurants make a remarkable contribution of £2.8 billion annually to the UK economy. They work with great dedication and sacrifice — they are the unsung heroes of our economy.”
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The House Of Commons appearance from Masterchef Kemal. Widely regarded as one of Liverpool’s top culinary talents, he has earned national recognition for his skill, creativity, and commitment to fresh ingredients. In addition to his Chef Of The Year awards, he has been travelling the world to attend culinary festivals and events — representing Liverpool and the UK.
A passionate advocate for the hospitality industry, he is now using his platform to call for greater support for chefs, restaurateurs and suppliers across the UK. When he’s not winning awards and appearing at top events, you can find Kemal at Casa Rima — the award winning restaurant on Baileys Lane in Halewood that’s a big hit with football players.
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The British Kebab Awards reception at the House of Commons not only highlighted the sector’s immense economic impact but also celebrated the cultural diversity and community spirit that kebab restaurants represent. With the voices of industry leaders like Masterchef Kemal pushing for change, the event underscored the urgency of safeguarding the hospitality sector for future generations.
Casa Rima / 9A Baileys Lane, Halewood, L26 2XB / 0151 245 8599
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