A RESTAURANT has been crowned takeaway of the year by Argus readers after it continued to feed hungry customers during lockdown.

Nostos in Holland Road, Hove, was voted the winner from a shortlist of 15 businesses across Sussex that offer a takeaway service.

Kyriakos Baxevanis, who opened the Greek restaurant in August 2019 alongside co-owner and head chef Alexandros Tzimos, beat competition from neighbouring restaurants including Indiana Tandoori in Hove and Wheelies Café Diner in Brighton.

When the government first introduced lockdown restrictions in March, restaurants were forced to stop customers eating inside in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19.

But with businesses still allowed to deliver food, the Nostos team decided to reinvent the restaurant and made a conscious effort to help the community by offering deliveries of fresh produce and other ingredients through an online shop, as well as a takeaway service.

The restaurant has been ferrying its authentic Greek cuisine across the city, from souvlaki wraps and moussakas to kleftiko and giaourtlou.

Mr Baxevanis said: “We’ve been doing a lot of community work over the last five months since the first lockdown.

“We have an online shop which allows us to distribute products to people and we are also involved with a lot of charities and the NHS.

“I’ve been doing a lot of the deliveries myself which has allowed me to still be face to face with customers, obviously with masks and at a distance.

“It’s a lovely feeling to continue working in the community, especially in Brighton and Hove where everyone comes together and we are feeling the love.”

Continuing to adapt to the challenges of the pandemic, Nostos participated in the government’s Eat Out To Help Out scheme which offered customers discounted meals throughout August.

Following a successful summer, the restaurant was voted the best Eat Out To Help Out restaurant by Argus readers.

Mr Baxevanis said he is thrilled that his business has been embraced by the community. He said: “We’re so happy that Brighton and Hove recognised us again within just a couple of months.

“It has been such a hard year for the hospitality industry in general and for us being a new business, just a year and a half old.

“So having this recognition keeps us upbeat, particularly with having to face more restrictions and with no end in sight.”

Although the business already seems to be on to a winning formula, Mr Baxevanis said he is continually working on exciting plans to keep his customers coming back.He said: “We want to continue making great food and adding a certain uniqueness to our Greek cuisine.

“We want to continue learning and taking positives from the coronavirus pandemic in terms of what it can teach us as a business, such as with the takeaway and the online shop.

“Ultimately we want to continue what we are doing, make sure we protect our staff and come out the other end still serving delicious food.”