Poor Boys Kingston Uber Eats Award Finalist, South London 2026

Key Points

• Poor Boys, a New Orleans-style street food restaurant in Kingston, has been named one of the UK’s best in Uber Eats’ 2026 Restaurant of the Year Awards.
• The restaurant is representing South London among 45 regional nominees across nine UK regions.
• Finalists are now in the running for a £100,000 business boost as part of the national competition.
• Poor Boys is based at Unit 5, The Griffin Centre, off Kingston’s Market Place.
• It was founded by two brothers inspired by the culture, atmosphere and food of New Orleans.
• Public voting is open for the awards, which highlight independent restaurants available on Uber Eats.

Kingston (South London News) July 17, 2026 –the New Orleans-style street food restaurant based in the Griffin Centre off Kingston’s Market Place, has been named one of the best independent eateries in the UK as part of Uber Eats’ 2026 Restaurant of the Year Awards. The South London venue is now among 45 finalists spread across nine UK regions and is in contention for a £100,000 boost to support its business growth.

Who are the 2026 Restaurant of the Year finalists?

Uber has published the full list of regional nominees for the 2026 awards, with Poor Boys appearing under the South London category alongside Arepa & Co, Brorritos, Chew Fun and Taro.

The competition covers regions including Central London, North London, South London, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and the North West, with each region showcasing a mix of independent restaurants available on the Uber Eats platform.

What does Poor Boys serve and who founded it?

Poor Boys specialises in New Orleans-style street food, drawing on the atmosphere, culture and culinary traditions of Southern Louisiana. According to Uber’s announcement, the restaurant was founded by two brothers who wanted to bring

“Southern Louisiana hospitality to the banks of the Thames”.

Their menu, available for delivery and pickup via Uber Eats from Unit 5, The Griffin Centre, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1JT, includes po’ boy sandwiches and other items inspired by the cuisine of New Orleans.

How does the Restaurant of the Year competition work?

The Restaurant of the Year Awards highlight independent restaurants on Uber Eats, with regional shortlists leading to a national final. Public voting is open for the 45 nominees, and the overall winner will receive a £100,000 business boost intended to support expansion, staffing, equipment or other investment needs.

The awards are promoted through Uber’s newsroom and Uber Eats channels, with regional lists published to allow customers to support local finalists.

Where is Poor Boys located in Kingston?

Poor Boys operates from Unit 5 in the Griffin Centre, just off Kingston’s Market Place in south-west London. The venue is listed on Uber Eats as “Poor Boys (Kingston)” and has been reviewed on independent platforms such as TripAdvisor, where it holds a 4.4 out of 5 rating from more than 600 reviews and is ranked within the top 15 restaurants in Kingston upon Thames.

Which other South London restaurants are in the running?

Alongside Poor Boys, the South London regional shortlist includes Arepa & Co, Brorritos, Chew Fun and Taro, according to Uber’s published list of 2026 nominees.

These restaurants represent a range of cuisines and concepts available on Uber Eats in the South London area, with each competing for regional support before a national winner is selected.

What recognition has Poor Boys already received locally?

While the Uber Eats award is a national-level accolade, Poor Boys has already established a strong local reputation in Kingston.

On TripAdvisor, the restaurant is ranked 15th out of 374 restaurants in Kingston upon Thames, with 636 reviews praising its food and value.

Gastroranking and other review sites also list Poor Boys as a notable option in the area, reflecting consistent customer interest and repeat visits.

How can people support Poor Boys in the awards?

Uber has indicated that public voting is now open for the 45 regional nominees across the UK. Customers can support Poor Boys by ordering from the restaurant via Uber Eats and by participating in the voting process as directed through Uber’s official channels for the Restaurant of the Year Awards.

The competition is designed to highlight independent venues and give them additional exposure through the Uber Eats platform.

Background of the development

Uber Eats’ Restaurant of the Year Awards are an annual programme designed to spotlight independent restaurants on the delivery platform and provide a pathway to national recognition. In previous years, the scheme has highlighted regional winners before selecting an overall UK champion, with the prize typically including a significant cash injection and marketing support.

The 2026 edition expands the format to nine UK regions, with five restaurants shortlisted in each region, creating a broader geographical spread of nominees.

Poor Boys fits within a wider trend of New Orleans-inspired food concepts in London, which have grown in number over the last decade.

Other venues in the capital have similarly drawn on the city’s music, cocktail culture and street food traditions, but Poor Boys distinguishes itself through its focus on delivery and takeaway via Uber Eats from a Kingston market-adjacent site.

The restaurant’s inclusion in the national shortlist reflects both its local popularity and its alignment with Uber Eats’ strategy of promoting independent operators with distinctive concepts.

Prediction: how this development could affect local diners and independent restaurants

If Poor Boys performs strongly in the Restaurant of the Year Awards, the most immediate effect is likely to be increased visibility for the venue among South London diners and beyond. A high profile in a national competition can drive additional orders through Uber Eats, higher footfall for pickup, and greater awareness of the Griffin Centre as a food destination in Kingston.

For local customers, this could mean longer wait times at peak periods but also greater confidence in the venue’s longevity and consistency.

For other independent restaurants in South London, Poor Boys’ nomination may encourage more operators to prioritise their Uber Eats presence, optimise their menus for delivery and actively engage with platform-led promotions and awards.

If the £100,000 prize or similar incentives are seen to materially help a small venue like Poor Boys, it could raise expectations that national recognition can translate into tangible business support, influencing how local independents plan their growth and marketing strategies.

Over time, this could contribute to a more competitive local delivery market, with more restaurants seeking similar national-level accolades to differentiate themselves.