Curry Life Awards 2024 celebrates 15th anniversary with biggest-ever number of awards
Winners of the Curry Life Awards 2024 were announced at a glittering ceremony hosted at the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square in Mayfair on 13th October.
The sold-out event, produced by Curry Life Media, the publisher of Curry Life magazine, is the most prestigious celebration of curry houses and Indian restaurants in the UK. The Awards were established by brothers Syed Nahas Pasha and Syed Belal Ahmed in 2009, and are widely recognised as the most distinguished and respected in the industry.
Curry Life Awards 2024: Record number of awards
This year marked the 15th edition of the Curry Life Awards and a record number of awards – 51 in total, were announced on the night across six categories. There were winners in the Editor’s Choice and Best Restaurant categories, while five takeaways were singled out in the Best Takeaway category, and a total of seven outstanding chefs were honoured in the Best Chef category. Awards were also announced in the Best Recommended Restaurant and Curry Legend categories.
Special guests and speakers on the night included Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE, Founder and Chairman of Cobra Beer and former President of the CBI, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Rushanara Ali MP, Charlotte Nichols MP and Jade Botterill MP.
Over the years, the awards have attracted other distinguished personalities; previous attendees have included Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner MP, Priti Patel MP and London Mayor Sadiq Khan. This year’s awards were hosted by GB news presenter Camilla Tominey, with previous hosts featuring celebrated broadcasters such as Jon Snow, Adam Boulton and Angela Rippon.
Highlighting best practice
Speaking after the 15th annual Curry Life Awards ceremony, Curry Life Media Group Editor, Syed Belal Ahmed, said: “A major aim of the awards has always been to highlight best practice going on across the country – so that everyone has the opportunity to learn from the best – something that has always been a driving principle behind Curry Life itself.
“Over the many years we have been staging the awards, we have seen major improvements in standards and quality being offered to customers, to the point where several restaurants are now in a position to challenge for accolades such as Michelin stars.”
Keynote speakers
Keynote speakers at the awards included Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP.
He commented: “Congratulations to everyone for their success at these awards.
“The hospitality industry has an enormous contribution to make to our country. But there’s something more fundamental about what the hospitality industry does, and what curry houses across the country do, which is about bringing people together, making connections and creating communities.
“It’s about making sure our high streets are thriving, and where people want to spend time and money and enjoy family and friendship. In the budget and beyond we will be doing everything that we can not just to support our large businesses, but to support our SMEs too.”
Another key speaker was Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE, Founder and Chairman of Cobra Beer and former President of the CBI – who added: “The curry industry continues to play a crucial role in British society, contributing over £4 billion in annual sales and employing thousands of hardworking individuals, a vital contribution to the British economy and hospitality sector.
“While we’ve faced significant challenges in recent years—from rising costs to labour shortages—the industry’s strength and determination remain unwavering.
!At Cobra Beer, we are immensely proud to stand alongside curry restaurants across the UK, grateful for their loyalty and resilience.
“Together, we look ahead with optimism, knowing that our shared commitment will help us thrive in the face of any challenge.”
Rushanara Ali said: “The British curry industry has been absolutely vital – it has not only created opportunities for the British Asian community but also built a multi-billion pound industry.
“So it’s wonderful to see the industry going from strength to strength. Huge congratulations to all the nominees and winners.”
Syed Nahas Pasha, editor-in-chief of Curry Life magazine added: “These are the most sought-after awards in the industry, delivered by the UK’s only curry magazine.
“Our rigorous awards process ensures that the winners really are the best of the best and we are delighted to honour them this year and celebrate our 15th anniversary. Here’s to many more awards!”
The awards were sponsored by Cobra Beer, WorkPermitCloud, Unisoft and Hillside Travels.
CURRY LIFE AWARDS 2024 WINNERS
Editor’s Choice Awards
The Bombay Orpington
74-76 High Street
Green Street Green
Orpington, Kent BR6 6BJ
The Vedas
Rochdale Road
Todmorden OL14 7LD
The Broadway Bar and Grill
263-265 Abbey Lane
Leicester LE4 5QH
International Restaurant
254 Sticker Lane
Bradford BD4 8RN
Evesham Balti
10 Waterside
Evesham WR11 1BS
Bombay Balti Lancaster
16 China Street
Lancaster LA1 1EX
Jomidar Lounge
6 Welford Road
Creaton
Northampton NN6 8NH
Three Rooms
4 Kimbolton Road
Bedford
MK40 2NR
Bombay Restaurant
38-40 Regent Street
Leamington Spa
Warwickshire CV32 5EG
Rimjhim Spice
6-8 Villa Road
Colchester, Essex CO3 0RH
BEST RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Kahani Restaurant
1 Wilbraham Place
London SW1X 9AE
Jahangir Tandoori (Scotland)
1 Session Street
Dundee, Angus DD1 5DN
Celebrities Indian Restaurant
109-111 Caerphilly Road
Cardiff CF14 4QA Wales
Raj Garden
217-219 Park Avenue
Bushey
Herts WD23 2DQ
The Chequers Indian Lounge
19 Stowmarket Road
Great Blakenham
Ipswich IP6 0LP
Cinnamon Lounge
97 Bridge Road, Horbury,
Wakefield WF4 5NN
The Pavilion
538-542 Blackburn Road
Astley Bridge
Bolton BL1 8NW
Lea Cross Tandoori
Lea Cross, Shrewsbury
Shropshire SY5 8HR
The Raj Indian Cuisine
2A Common Lane
Culcheth, Cheshire
WA3 4EG
Temple Indian Fusion
Old parcel office
Jubilee Parade
Snake Lane East
Woodford, Essex IG8 7QF
Monsoon Majestic Indian Dining
19-21 George Street
Newcastle Under Lyme
Newcastle ST5 1JX
Spices and Spirits
3 Kings Furlong Centre
Basingstoke RG21 8YT
Eurasia Tandoori
21 West Castle Street
Bridgnorth
Shropshire WV16 4AB
Indian Rose Restaurant
39 Mutley Plain
Mutley, Plymouth PL4 6JQ
Cinnamon Central
117 Belvoir Road,
Coalville LE67 3PH
Musafir Restaurant
4-6 Victoria Road
Earby
Barnoldswick BB18 6US
Paprika Restaurant
27 Nightingale Road
Hitchin
Herts SG5 1QU
Chennai Indian Cuisine
High Street
Leek ST13 5DZ
Staffordshire
TASTE OF NAWAB
97 Colney Hatch Lane
Muswell Hill
London N10 1LR
Kelvedon Spice
98 High Street
Kelvedon
Colchester CO5 9AA
Reema Bengali Cuisine
130-132 Sea Road
East Preston, Littlehampton
BN16 1NN
Shimla Restaurant
10A Church Street
Armthorpe
Doncaster DN3 3AE
Taste of Paradise
2-4 High Street
Newport TF10 7AN
Chennai Indian Fusion
7 Buller Street
Looe PL13 1AR
Cornwall
Chowringhee Indian Cuisine
2 Wilmington Parade,
Patcham
Brighton BN1 8JJ
Coco Buffet
30-34 St James Street,
Weston-super-Mare
BS23 1ST
The 29029 Restaurant Parkstone
99 Commercial Road
Ashley Cross, Poole
Dorset BH14 0JD
SPECIAL CURRY LEGEND AWARD
Babul’s
9 Market Place
Barnard Castle
County Durham
DL12 8N
BEST CHEF OF THE YEAR 2024 AWARDS
Taj Cuisine
1 Walderslade Centre,
Walderslade Road,
Walderslade,
Chatham ME5 9UD
Ali’s Kitchen
40a The Strand
Longton, Stoke-on-Trent
ST3 2JN
The Fat Buddha
3 Bridge Street
Maidenhead SL6 8LR
Berkshire
Sultan Tandoori
16 London Road
St. Ives PE27 5ES
Cambridgeshire
Mowgli’s @ The Bell
The Bell Inn
Main Street
Beachampton
Milton Keynes MK19 6DX
Da Mount Gurkha
71 Crosby Road North
Waterloo
Liverpool L22 4QD
Raj Mahal Restaurant
Lion House
High Street
Moreton-in-Marsh
Gloucester GL56 0LH
BEST TAKEAWAY AWARDS
Ashiana Takeaway
7 Wells Road
Ilkley LS29 9JB
Village Spice Takeaway
32 Woodside Road
Telford TF1 5EZ
Shika’s Indian Takeaway
10 Birmingham Road
Great Barr
Birmingham B43 6NR
CLAY OVEN TAKEAWAY
36 Whalebone Lane South
Dagenham RM8 1BB
Spice Cube Prestwick
32 Main Street
Prestwick KA9 1NX
RECOMENDED RESTAURANT AWARDS
Taj Mahal Restaurant
51 The Causeway
Chippenham SN15 3DD
