Tag: British Curry Awards

Scottish restaurants shortlisted for coveted British Curry Awards

The following Scotland restaurants have been shortlisted for the Best Restaurant Scotland category at the coveted British Curry Awards (the ‘Curry Oscars’, as termed by former PM, David Cameron): 

– Charcoals Indian Restaurant, 26A Renfield Street. Glasgow G2 1LU

– Karma Indian Restaurant. 154 West Main Street, Whitburn EH47 0QR

– Dishoom, 3A St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2BD

– Radhuni, 93 Clerk Street, Loanhead EH20 9RE

– Light of Bengal, 13 Rose Street, Aberdeen AB10 1TX

– Madras Cafe, 82 Howard Street, Glasgow G1 4EE

– Chennai’s Marina, 23 Jocks Lodge, Edinburgh  EH8 7AA

– Swadish, 33 Ingram Street, Glasgow G1 1HA

– Obsession of India, 25 High Street, Glasgow G1 1LX

– Mowgli Street Food Glasgow, 78 St Vincent Street G2 5UB

– Carron to Mumbai, 20 Cameron Street, Stonehaven AB39 2HS

Additionally shortlisted for Best Takeaway Award is:

– Spice Tandoori, 9A Moss Street Elgin Moray IV30 1LU

The 18th, annual ceremony ceremony will take place at Evolution London, Battersea Park on Monday 28th November, once again welcoming the UK’s leading curry restaurateurs alongside prominent personalities from the worlds of showbiz, entertainment, sports and politics. 

This year, the ceremony will pay homage to the legacy of British Curry Awards Founder, Enam Ali MBE, who sadly passed away earlier this year; as well as recognise the issues currently facing the UK curry industry in the cost of living and energy crises. 

‘Curry Oscars’ to pay tribute to ceremony’s founder and

Pioneer of UK curry industry

UK’s top curry restaurants to be honoured on the night

Ceremony to introduce public, live vote on the night for Diners’ Choice Award

Industry facing continued uncertainty amid energy and cost of living crises And rising inflation

Onion Bhaji Index indicates average cost in the UK will rise from £4 to £12

The UK’s leading and foremost award ceremony to honour the nation’s top curry restaurants, as voted for by the British public, The British Curry Awards 2022 in association with Just Eat, will pay tribute to the late Enam Ali MBE. 

The 18th annual ceremony will be held on Monday 28th November at Evolution London in memory of the event’s founder and the UK’s leading spokesperson for the curry industry, who worked tirelessly to promote the curry industry globally for over 45 years.

The finest curry restaurateurs from across the UK will come together in the Capital to honour Enam Ali’s memory and in the hope of being recognised as the best restaurant in their region and honoured with a jewel in the crown of the UK curry restaurant industry award sector.

Recognised globally as the original and most coveted award ceremony in the UK curry industry, also referred to as the ‘Curry Oscars’, as termed by former Prime Minister David Cameron, British Curry Awards will also welcome prominent personalities from the worlds of politics, sport, showbiz and entertainment alongside celebrity chefs and curry restaurant owners and their staff from across the country. The Awards’ main sponsor is Just Eat, the market-leading online food ordering and delivery platform.

British Curry Awards has established itself as a national institution, recognised internationally and a firm fixture on the UK’s social calendar. A nationwide nominations process to honour the nation’s top curry houses is led by the local patrons of curry houses on the streets of Britain, annually invited to nominate their favourite curry restaurants and takeaways. The process of public nominations creates an authentic list of the nation’s favourite Asian eateries, based on the opinions of residents, leading to a rigorous vetting process by an independent panel of judges.  

The 2022 event also marks the introduction of the Diners Choice Award – anew category that will reward curry establishments that are able to engage their customers through social media. Any nominated establishment in Britain will have a chance to win this award if they receive the highest number of live, public votes on the night.

However, the UK curry industry, known for its resilience in weathering operational and business challenges such as staff shortages and the pandemic, now faces further uncertainty with the energy and cost of living crises and amid rising inflation. With spiralling costs, It is estimated that the average price of a curry could reach as much as £30 and industry leaders fear it could lead to the closure of thousands of curry restaurants across the UK.

Curry restaurateurs have seen their shopping bills increase by an average of 40 per cent. The price of oil alone has increased by more than 100per cent; while the cost of other curry house essentials such as a 25kg sack of onions has now doubled to more than £14.50. The situation is unsustainable for the industry as curry houses are desperately trying to minimise off-setting these costs against menu pricing, as households are facing tightened budgets themselves.

The Spice Business ‘Onion Bhaji Index’ indicates the average cost of an onion bhaji in the UK will jump from £4 to £12 per portion, while rising inflation means the average price of curry house favourite, the chicken tikka masala, would rise from an average menu price of £7 to £17, which diners are simply unable to afford. Add to that soaring energy bills, it is estimated that around seven in ten restaurants could be forced to shut their doors for good without government intervention.

Jeffrey Ali, Director, British Curry Awards says, “The British Curry Awards 2022 marks the first year without our Founder, the late Enam Ali MBE. For decades, he tirelessly dedicated his life towards promoting and championing the UK Curry Industry, cementing The British Curry Awards as an ‘institution’.

“As the natural custodian of this revered brand, we proudly strive forward with our responsibility to continue his legacy, ensuring The British Curry Awards remain THE platform to inspire future generations to push the boundaries and innovate Britain’s favourite cuisine. 

“Whilst the international community, especially the UK, faces a continued onslaught of economic uncertainty and political instability, we take solace from the general public who continue to support local businesses such as their local Curry Restaurants.

“We’re currently developing the ‘Onion Bhaji Index’, which will help consumers and business owners alike to better understand prices at their local curry establishment. As a consumer forward award platform, our goal is to promote the best in Britain, bringing real value to our nation’s customers.

“We have received tens of thousands of nominations this year and look forward to announcing the results of our months-long judging process and live vote due to be held at the biggest and most anticipated ceremony on the hospitality calendar.”

Edinburgh restaurant Dishoom wins at British Curry Awards

  • ‘Curry Oscars’ honour crème of UK’s curry restaurants, as nominated by diners, following Covid challenges 
  • “We’re not just building back better, we’re building back balti” – Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, in message of support

The UK’s favourite curry restaurants, as nominated for by the British Public, were announced at the trailblazing and foremost celebration of the industry, British Curry Awards in association with Just Eat, as it returned for its 17thyear after the pandemic challenges. 

The finest curry restaurateurs from across the UK descended on the Capital in the hope of being recognised as the best restaurant in their region and honoured with a jewel in the crown of the UK curry restaurant industry award sector at the prestigious ceremony that took place on Monday 29th November at Battersea Evolution.

Recognised globally as the original and most respected award ceremony in the UK curry industry and the ‘Curry Oscars’, as named by former Prime Minister David Cameron, British Curry Awards once again welcomed in person prominent personalities from the worlds of politics, sport, showbiz and entertainment alongside celebrity chefs and curry restaurant owners and their staff from across the country.

In attendance were: Cricketer, Azeem Rafiq; Love Island contestant, Priya Gopaldas, model, Danielle Mason;  former The Apprentice winner, Sian Gabbidon; TV presenters, Melinda Messenger, Lizzie Cundy, Faye Barker, Hayley Sparkes and Hayley Palmer; radio presenter, James Whale; television GP, Dr Amir Khan; filmmaker, actor and presenter, Mistah Islah; music artists, Patti Boulaye and Mr Fabulous; President of Restaurant Association, Robert Walton MBE; MP’s, Chris Grayling, Foysol Choudhury; RuPaul’s Drag Race UK’s Baga Chipz; and Reality TV personality, Robbie McMahon among others.The ceremony was hosted byactor and comedian, Omid Djalili. Bollywood star, Abhishek Bachchan, attended virtually to present the award for the Best Restaurant West Midlands category.

As the foremost and pioneering celebration of the UK curry industry’s achievements and the best restaurants across all regions, with awards deemed the most prized badge of honour across the entire industry for winning restaurants, British Curry Awards has established itself as a national institution. 

British Curry Awards 2021 Winners: 

Best Restaurant Scotland: Dishoom, 3A St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2BD

Best Restaurant North East: Mumtaz Restaurant, 386-410 Great Horton Road, Bradford BD7 3HS

Best Restaurant North West: Asha’s, 47 Peter Street, Manchester M2 3NG

Best Restaurant East Midlands: Montaz Newmarket, 30 Old Station Road, Newmarket CB8 8DN

Best Restaurant West Midlands: Pushkar Restaurant, 245 Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2HQ

Best Restaurant Wales: Purple Poppadom, 185a Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff CF11 9AJ

Best Restaurant South East: Chez Mumtaz, Centurian House 136-142 London Road, St Albans AL1 1PQ

Best Restaurant South West: Prithvi Restaurant, 37 Bath Road, Cheltenham GL53 7HG

Best Restaurant London Central & City: Benares, 12a Berkeley Square, Mayfair W1J 6BS

Best Restaurant London – Outer & Suburbs: Shampan Bromley, 38 Chatterton Road, Bromley BR2 9QN

Best Newcomer: Mathura Restaurant, 4 Greycoat Place, London SW1P 1SB

Best Delivery Restaurant/Takeaway: Maliks Express Kitchen, Shop 5, Marsham Way, Gerrards Cross SL9 8AB

Most  Innovative Restaurant Concept: Khai Khai Indian Restaurant, 29 Queen Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 3UG

A nationwide nominations process to honour the nation’s top curry houses is led by the local patrons of curry houses on the streets of Britain, annually invited to nominate their favourite Asian restaurants and takeaways. The process of public nominations creates an authentic list of the nation’s favourite Asian eateries, based on the opinions of the public, leading to a rigorous vetting process by an independent panel of judges.

This year’s ceremony had particular significance, given the challenges faced by the industry over the past 18 months of the pandemic, and acknowledged the industry’s spirit and resilience through difficult business and personal circumstances. The industry has seen many leaders, pioneers, restaurateurs and staff tragically lose their lives to Covid. This year’s ceremony paid tribute to those that have passed away. 

Additionally, operational issues such as supply chain and staff shortages and the knock-on effect of multiple lockdowns has had a lasting impact on business. Nevertheless, the entrepreneurial spirit and strong will of the UK curry community continues to work tirelessly to serve customers and diners across the UK with the nation’s favourite dish. 

British Curry Awards Founder, Enam Ali MBE, is the UK’s leading spokesperson for the curry industry and has been promoting it globally for the past 45 years. Speaking at the event, he said, “What a year we have had – full of highs and lows as we have come out of the pandemic and had to  try and rebuild our businesses after lockdowns. The support of our customers has been incredible but the challenges are still significant.

At the British Curry Awards we have always stood up for the causes that matter to the industry. We are all now benefitting from the so-called vindaloo visa which has helped address the chef shortage problem. We will always fight your corner. And the Government does listen to us.

This year we have received many reports that restaurants that had got high, four or five stars ‘scores on the doors’ in the past  from local environmental health officers have been getting marked  down to only one or two stars. It seems from the reports we are getting that, often, restaurants are being marked down for fairly minor, technical infringements. Even though these can often be quickly rectified they are having to wait up to six months to be reassessed. This is unfair and is putting many  already struggling businesses as they come out of the pandemic on the verge of closure. 

What we are asking for is the government to require local authorities to  have a much faster appeal and recertification process, so that those marked down can be reassessed in 4-6 weeks, not 4-6 months. Otherwise we will not be able to play our part in the recovery of our high streets, as this inflexible process will prove the straw that breaks the camel’s back.”

In a message of support, Prime Minister, Boris Johnson said, “I’m delighted that one of the greatest events in our gastronomic calendar, the Curry Oscars, is back in action and it is fantastic to celebrate the genius of our curry restaurateurs who have, for decades, offered their fragrant medleys. Throughout the testing times of the past two years, you’ve always responded with resolve and creativity, feeding our NHS heroes and dispatching fleets of mopeds to bring spice to the lives of millions of people at home. And now I’m glad to say customers are returning en masse and curry houses the length and breadth of these islands are bustling once again, more than 10,000 of them across the whole of the United Kingdom. That’s 200 for every city, more in London than in Mumbai and since the British Curry Awards are now in their 17th year with a record number of nominations, we’re not just building back better we’re building back balti and I want to thank you all – restaurants, chefs and waiters – for blessing us with your flavoursome morsels.”

Andrew Kenny, UK Managing Director, Just Eat says, “It’s a great honour to once again be sponsoring the British Curry Awards. After an incredibly challenging 18 months, there’s never been a better time to recognise the resilient and hard-working individuals within the restaurant and takeaway sector.

Despite the many obstacles faced, from shortages in the supply chain to difficulty in recruiting skilled workers, restaurants have risen to the occasion and delivered customers a taste of normality when they needed it the most. We want to ensure that takeaway restaurants – especially in this sector which contributes so much to British culture – don’t just survive, but thrive, in today’s challenging economic climate.”

Edinburgh restaurants shortlisted for coveted British Curry Awards

The UK’s favourite curry restaurants, as nominated for by the British Public, will once again be honoured at the trailblazing and foremost celebration of the industry, British Curry Awards in association with Just Eat, as it returns for its 17th year after the pandemic challenges. 

The finest curry restaurateurs from across the UK will descend on the Capital in the hope of being recognised as the best restaurant in their region and honoured with a jewel in the crown of the UK curry restaurant industry award sector at the prestigious ceremony on Monday 25th November at Battersea Evolution.

The following Edinburgh restaurants have been shortlisted for the Best Restaurant Scotland: 

– Dishoom, 3A St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2BD

– Radhuni, 93 Clerk Street, Loanhead, Midlothian EH20 9RE

– Shezan Indian Restaurant, 24-25 Union Place, Edinburgh EH1 3NQ

Shortlisted for the Newcomer of the Year Award: 

– Prana Indian Grill, 295A St Johns Road, Edinburgh EH12 7XF

Recognised globally as the original and most respected award ceremony in the UK curry industry and the ‘Curry Oscars’, as highlighted by former Prime Minister David Cameron, British Curry Awards will once again welcome in person prominent personalities from the worlds of politics, sport, showbiz and entertainment alongside celebrity chefs and curry restaurant owners and their staff from across the country.

Last year’s ceremony, which was live streamed due to pandemic restrictions, was attended virtually by Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan; Love Island contestants, Amy Hart, Nas Majeed and Eva Zapico; TOWIE star, Jess Wright; and model and TV personality, Caprice among others. TV comedian and impressionist, Rory Bremner, hosted the virtual event, which was live streamed to audiences globally. 

As the foremost and pioneering celebration of the UK curry industry’s achievements and the best restaurants across all regions, with awards deemed the most prized badge of honour across the entire industry for winning restaurants, British Curry Awards has established itself as a national institution, recognised internationally and a firm fixture of the UK’s social calendar. 

A nationwide nominations process to honour the nation’s top curry houses is led by the local patrons of curry houses on the streets of Britain, annually invited to nominate their favourite Asian restaurants and takeaways. The process of public nominations creates an authentic list of the nation’s favourite Asian eateries, based on the opinions of local residents, leading to a rigorous vetting process by an independent panel of judges. 

This year’s ceremony has particular significance, given the challenges faced by the industry over the past 18 months of the pandemic, and will acknowledge the industry’s spirit and resilience through difficult business and personal circumstances. The industry has seen many leaders, pioneers, restaurateurs and staff tragically lose their lives to Covid. This year’s ceremony will pay tribute to those that have passed away. 

Additionally, operational issues such as supply chain and staff shortages and the knock-on effect of multiple lockdowns has had a lasting impact on business. Nevertheless, the entrepreneurial spirit and strong will of the UK curry community continues to work tirelessly to serve customers and diners across the UK with the nation’s favourite dish. 

British Curry Awards Founder, Enam Ali MBE, is the UK’s leading spokesperson for the curry industry and has been promoting it globally for the past 45 years. 

A restaurateur himself and owner of Le Raj curry restaurant, Epsom, he says: “It gives me great joy that, after the challenges of the last 18 months, my industry friends in the UK curry fraternity and public figures will unite once again in person at the home of the British Curry Awards – Battersea Evolution – to celebrate the nation’s favourite curry houses while also recognising the issues we, as an industry and as a nation, have faced during the pandemic. 

“Testament to the entrepreneurial spirit of the cross-generational migrant community that comprises the UK’s curry industry, we have come back ever more determined to serve curry lovers up and down the country, continuing to take on all challenges head on and ensure the industry continues to thrive once again.

“At the same time, we will pay tribute to our industry colleagues that we have sadly lost to Covid. Their presence is deeply missed among us.” 

Andrew Kenny, UK Managing Director, Just Eat says, “It’s a great honour to once again be sponsoring the British Curry Awards. After an incredibly challenging 18 months, there’s never been a better time to recognise the resilient and hard-working individuals within the restaurant and takeaway sector.

“Despite the many obstacles faced, from shortages in the supply chain to difficulty in recruiting skilled workers, restaurants have risen to the occasion and delivered customers a taste of normality when they needed it the most. 

“We want to ensure that takeaway restaurants – especially in this sector which contributes so much to British culture – don’t just survive, but thrive, in today’s challenging economic climate.”