The achievements of the British curry industry were celebrated in grand style at the second annual British Curry Awards. Organised by Spice Business magazine in conjunction with Lloyds TSB Cardnet the event was held at London’s Grosvenor House on Sunday 17th September.

TV news presenter Alastair Stewart OBE hosted the glamorous and glittering occasion, which was attended by almost 1100 people, including stars from the worlds of entertainment, fashion, sport, and cuisine, as well leading political figures.

While the main purpose of the event was to showcase and pay tribute to the country’s leading curry restaurants, the awards also provided the industry with a platform from which to engage the Government in debate over its controversial immigration policy.

Addressing the audience, British Curry Awards founder, and Spice Business editor, Enam Ali, drew attention to the ‘very real problem, of securing low-skilled staff with the cultural understanding that a tandoori kitchen requires.’ Mr Ali said, “Quite simply, the future of the British curry does not depend on our ability to only employ highly qualified chefs who are already working in curry restaurants throughout Asia.

“However, the sustainability of British curry restaurants throughout the UK does depend on our ability to employ non-qualified people with a unique understanding of the cuisine who will fit into the existing tandoori kitchen culture and grow within the workplace to become the British curry chefs of tomorrow.”

Mr Ali’s words drew strong support from senior Labour and Conservative MPs present. Keith Vaz MP paid tribute to the effectiveness of the campaign on the staffing crisis issue, and suggested that the Government was still ‘persuadable’ that greater flexibility is required.

One of the high points of the evening was the presentation to Madhur Jaffrey, writer and broadcaster, of a special Lifetime Achievement award. This was in recognition of her long-standing and unique track record of promoting the art of spice cooking to the British public.

In presenting her with the award, Enam Ali said, “Madhur Jaffrey is someone who has done so much for the spice industry in this country. It is about time that her contribution should be recognised and the British Curry Awards is proud to honour her.”

Awards were presented on a regional basis for the UK’s best curry restaurants and the winners were: Britannia Spice (Scotland), Vujon (North), Rajnagar Tandoori (Midlands), Juboraj Rhiwbina (Wales), Maliks (South), Tamarind (London West) and Mehek (London East).

In addition, The Valley, Spice Merchant and The Cinammon Club were named as Most Innovative Restaurants of the Year.

The Newcomer of the Year award went to Ithihaas, and there were also awards given to Waitrose (Best Starter), Asda (Main Dish), Sainsburys (Accompaniment) and Morrisons (Side Dish) in a new best Supermarket Curry of the Year category.

Yorkshire-based Aagrah won the award for Best Restaurant Group.

The British Curry Awards are open to all restaurants serving primarily Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Nepalese or modern fusion cuisine.

Around 20,000 nominations from the public were received this year, and these were the basis on which an initial shortlist of 100 restaurants were drawn up. From this list, 30 top restaurants were selected and evaluated by an independent panel of expert judges selected by Spice Business magazine.