JUST hours after having their Trowbridge restaurant named the South West's Best Takeaway, the owners of Smokey's were shocked to discover a fire had broken out in their new Warminster premises.

Owners Kelly and Simon Llewellyn were fresh from celebrating their win at the British Takeaway Awards when Mrs Llewellyn discovered the fire at their newest premises in East Road, Warminster, on Tuesday (December 6). The fire, which the cause of is currently unknown, has caused smoke damage to the front of the takeaway.

Mrs Llewellyn said: "We have had some of our family pop in and help clean up which is lovely. It is mostly smoke damage that is the issue with the Warminster shop. It's like you try to celebrate one thing and then boom this happens, but luckily it isn't anything a paintbrush can't fix."

The family-run grill in Stallard Street was awarded the best takeaway award at a star-studded ceremony which was hosted by Rob Brydon at The Savoy in London. The British Takeaway Awards, run in association with the online takeaway business Just Eat, celebrate the best of the best fast food eateries. Founded by husband and wife team Simon and Kelly Llewellyn, Smokey’s was named Wiltshire’s best restaurant of 2015.

Mrs Llewellyn said: "We feel absolutely astounded, it is hard to put into words, I don't think it has sunk in yet. We put everything we have into the restaurant, our heart and soul goes into that place. We won best Wiltshire restaurant in 2015 and to win this as well is amazing. The whole night was such an experience, we met Rob Brydon who is just hilarious, he really made the night. We also got to meet the team from Masterchef like Greg Wallace as they were all judges after doing a mystery shopper visit at the places on the list."

The chefs at Smokey’s are also ecstatic about the win, priding themselves on the food that helped the restaurant take number one spot.

Callum Lane, sous chef at Smokey’s, said: “Simon messaged me last night over Facebook to tell me what happened. I have only just come out of catering college so to be working in an award winning restaurant is fantastic.”

Joining Smokey's in the running for this year's winner was fellow Trowbridge takeaway Nacho Cheese in Union Street, who have been finalists in the competition for the past two years.

Lorraine Priestley, manager of Nacho Cheese, said: "It was amazing we were considered again, obviously it feels very good. We have a very good relationship with our customers and with Just Eat, we just found out we are in the top ten restaurants on Just Eat in the whole country. Hopefully we will be considered next year, I would dare to say that if our customers keep voting for us we could have a chance."

Graham Corfield, UK managing director of Just Eat and who chaired the judging panel, said: “We’ve been really impressed with the finalists in the South West, they’ve put their heart and soul into this and the passion to win this award has been on a different level. Smokey’s really resonates with its customers for its great food and excellent customer service. It was a tough choice but they are a worthy winner.”