A PENRITH takeaway has won a top business award.

Just Greek, on King Street, won the Best Takeaway category at the Cumbria Retail Business Awards organised by England's Business Awards.

The authentic Greek takeaway sells homemade dishes, pies and gyros.

It is run by Yannis Papameletis and Maria Skarlatou.

Yannis said: "I was excited but I still cannot believe it. I need some time to process it."

Yannis and Maria have ran Just Greek for three years.

It is the only Greek takeaway in Penrith.

The awards ceremony was held in the Halston Hotel in Carlisle on Tuesday evening.

Yannis had not anticipated the victory.

He said: "I wasn’t expecting it. Everything happened very quick because we were away for holidays and then we came back and we received a letter saying that we were among the finalists.

"We were already feeling great. Making the final for us was a very big thing.

"I didn’t know what to expect [at the awards night] to be honest.

"When they made the announcement it was a mixture of emotions. I was proud, I was emotional."

Now that they have won the award for best takeaway in Cumbria, Just Greek will move onto the national final.

This will take place in London next year.

Yannis said: "I don’t know all the details because I was not listening at the moment [that they told us]. I was too excited."

When asked if the takeaway was popular, he said: "It is not for me to say.

"My customers always speak very highly of us, they always have kind words.

"Every week we have new reviews, but I never ask for reviews from anybody.

"We have people coming every day, new people that have never been in before, because we are highly recommended.

"I am not the kind of person who would say that he feels popular, but what I would say is that I feel that it is a massive achievement coming from a small town like Penrith."

Yannis added: "I am proud about because people appreciate what we do.

"There are only two of us and we try hard every day."