Restaurants hopeful at British Curry Awards
Despite months of closures and staff immigration problems, the Indian restaurant industry were celebrating in style at the British Curry Awards as they announced Tamarind in Mayfair as the best restaurant in London Central.
Ten Indian restaurants from regions around the UK were presented with the awards by comedian Jon Culshaw at a ceremony at Grosvenor House, after being whittled down from over 3,000 entries.
A special Most Innovative Restaurant award was presented to Tiffinbites, which has four restaurants in the London area, while Aagrah in Sheffield was given an award for Newcomer of the Year.
Enam Ali (pictured right with Jon Culshaw and Jamal Hirani of Tiffinbites), Founder of the British Curry Awards and Publisher of Spice Business magazine spoke at the vent of his frustration that the government will soon implement a points-based immigration system, making it harder to employ skilled kitchen staff.
"How many more restaurants are going to have to close before the politicians recognise we have a special case and grant us the small concessions we are seeking?” he said. “Without action, the spiral of decline is certain to accelerate, with each closure having a knock-on effect to other businesses and suppliers. We must, and will, keep up the pressure to get things changed. There is no alternative."
British Curry Week next month (23rd to 29th November) is hoped to raise the profile of the Indian restaurants plight, as the nation joins together to celebrate their national dish.
The winners of the regional British Curry Awards are:
Scotland / Northern Ireland: Cinnamon Club, Aberdeen
North East: Last Days of the Raj, Gateshead
North West: Indian Ocean, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire
East Midlands: Mem Saab, Northampton
West Midlands: Lasan, Birmingham
Wales: Bokhara Brasserie, Bridgend
South East: Maliks, Cookham, Berks
South West: Rajpoot, Bath
London Central & City: Tamarind, Mayfair
London Suburbs: Brilliant, Southall
