Winning a restaurant award in today’s crowded culinary scene is about more than just great food. If you want your restaurant’s name called at the Curry Oscars or featured in top-tier food industry awards, digital marketing is your secret weapon. It helps you get discovered, builds credibility, and attracts not just customers, but judges.
In this guide, we’ll unpack the best digital marketing strategies UK restaurants can use to boost visibility, increase engagement, and build a brand that earns recognition.
Craft a Brand That Lives Online as Much as It Does on the Plate
Think of your restaurant’s online presence as your digital storefront—and awards judges are walking by every day. It’s not enough to be discoverable; you need to be unforgettable.
Start by aligning your brand identity across all platforms, including your website, social media, online listings, and even your menu. Are your colours, logos, tone of voice, and photography consistent? Do they tell your story, or do they feel templated?
Award panels aren’t just looking at flavours—they’re looking for originality, story, and presentation. When your brand is consistent and emotionally engaging online, you create an impression that sticks.
Use Local SEO to Show You’re a Standout in Your Area
Most food industry awards take geography into account. They’re looking for the best in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow—you name it. That’s where local SEO becomes a game-changer.
Optimise your website and Google Business Profile with keywords that match how customers search. Instead of just “Indian restaurant,” try phrases like:
- “Best Indian restaurant in Camden”
- “Award-winning curry takeaway in East London”
- “Top Pakistani restaurant near me”
These long-tail keywords do more than drive traffic—they anchor your brand in your neighbourhood, signalling to award bodies that you’re a local leader.
Don’t forget to keep your NAP details (name, address, and phone number) consistent across all platforms. Discrepancies hurt local SEO.
Leverage Online Reviews and Nominations From Real Customers
Judges read Google reviews. They scroll TripAdvisor. They absolutely check what people are saying on Instagram. A stellar reputation online is your social proof, and it matters.
Encourage loyal customers to leave thoughtful reviews. Make it easy. Print QR codes on receipts or link them in your booking confirmation emails. Better yet, run a low-key digital campaign: “Love our food? Nominate us for the Curry Oscars!”
Awards like the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards (ARTA) accept public nominations. By getting your diners involved, you build a community and generate the kind of organic buzz that judges can’t ignore.
Tell Your Story Through Content That Connects
Awards are given to restaurants that offer more than a good meal—they reward those that create an experience, a narrative, a sense of culture and pride. That story shouldn’t live only in your dining room.
Use content marketing to share:
- Your chef’s journey and inspirations
- How your menu celebrates regional traditions
- The behind-the-scenes moments that make your restaurant tick
- Customer spotlights and community initiatives
A blog section on your website, Instagram Reels, or even a YouTube series can help tell these stories in a digestible way. When awards bodies research nominees, they will find your content, and it should reflect your passion.
Work With the Right Influencers (You Don’t Need Celebrities)
Big names are great, but micro-influencers might just be more effective. Why? Because they’re trusted in niche communities.
Look for local foodies with 3k–10k followers who regularly review takeaways or restaurants in your area. Invite them in, offer an authentic experience, and encourage them to share honest content. Their engagement is likely to be much more meaningful than that of a massive influencer with a generic reach.
These collaborations also provide social media content that you can re-share, amplifying your brand without requiring you to create everything yourself.
Digital PR: Get Featured Where Judges Are Reading
If you want to win a food industry award, get on the radar of the people who matter. Digital PR is one of the most underused tools in restaurant marketing, but it can do wonders.
Pitch your unique story to local press, food blogs, and regional magazines. If your restaurant celebrates a rare cuisine, or your chef trained in a renowned culinary school, or you employ sustainability practices, talk about it.
Backlinks from these stories also improve your SEO, which means your restaurant climbs the Google rankings—and awards committees definitely notice that.
Run Smart Campaigns Around Key Award Deadlines
Many UK restaurant awards—like the British Curry Awards, National Restaurant Awards, and ARTA—have open nomination periods or public voting. Create digital marketing campaigns around those windows.
You could:
- Launch a “Vote for Us” page on your website
- Send an email campaign to your subscriber list
- Run Instagram stories with swipe-up links to nomination forms
- Add CTAs on printed receipts, bags or online orders
Remember, awards are often a mix of public vote and expert panel. Mobilising your base could be what tips the scale.
Track, Learn, Repeat
You can’t manage what you don’t measure. Utilise Google Analytics, Facebook Insights, and Instagram performance tools to monitor the effectiveness of your campaigns.
Which blog post brought the most traffic? What kind of posts got the highest engagement? Did your award nomination page see more visits after an email campaign?
Treat your marketing like your menu—test, taste, tweak. And repeat what works.
Final Thoughts: Awards Are Won in the Kitchen—and Online
The best UK restaurants aren’t just serving incredible food—they’re telling compelling stories, engaging with local communities, and making a digital presence where it counts. Whether you’re aiming for the Curry Oscars, a local food industry award, or national recognition, these digital strategies help put your name in the spotlight.
And when your name’s in the spotlight? That’s when the trophies follow.
FAQ Section
Do online reviews really affect my chances of winning restaurant awards?
Yes, especially for awards that take into account public perception. Positive Google, TripAdvisor, and Facebook reviews show consistent quality and customer satisfaction, two key judging criteria.
When is the best time to promote award nominations online?
Start a few weeks before the nomination deadline. That gives you time to create buzz without rushing. Awards like ARTA often announce timelines on their websites—keep an eye out.
What if I don’t have time to manage all my digital channels?
Start small. Focus on your Google Business Profile and one social channel where your audience already engages. Consistency matters more than quantity.
