The restaurant thanked the “Beak heads who order week in and week out”
14:07, 06 Jul 2025Updated 14:31, 06 Jul 2025
Beak Fried Chicken on Smithdown Place pictured sisters Natalie and Christy Grady. (Image: Colin Lane)
The owner of a fried chicken joint which claims to serve the best sliders “outside of America” has sent a message of thanks to his customers. Ben Raywood co-owns Beak alongside Sam McKee and Natalie Grady with the friends having venues in both Crosby and Smithdown.
The group launched their business in January 2021 when they sold 50 burgers every Friday from Sam’s mum’s kitchen. Fast forward to today, and after years of “trial and error”, the 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, the friends will have to beat off competition from Liverpool’s The Bagelry, Woffle and Maggie Fu, as well as a handful of other venues around the region.
Ben told the ECHO what the shortlist nomination meant to the restaurant. The 35-year-old said: “I want to say a massive thanks to all the Beak heads who order week in and week out. I’m absolutely made up, our hard work has paid off.
Beak Fried Chicken co-owner Natalie Grady (left) with sister and general manager, Christy Grady. Photo by Colin Lane(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
“We are so proud and massively appreciative. We are just three friends from Crosby who wanted a change from our corporate jobs because it was leaving us in a state of disillusionment.”
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 hostClodag h McKenna and last year’s standout winner, Natty Crutchfield, whose restaurant went from cult hit to national fame.
Upstairs with the Beak sign by artist Austin Wilde. Photo by Colin Lane(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
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.
‘The Scouse One’. Photo by Colin Lane(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
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”.
Beak Fried Chicken. Photo by Colin Lane(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
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.