Curry fans in the North East have cause to celebrate alongside two local restaurants which have been picked out at the National Curry Awards as being at the very top of their game.
The region is known for having top-class curry restaurants and now its hospitality industry is receiving another boost with the news of a double honour at this week's awards ceremony which was held at the House of Lords in London.
Shampan Restaurant in Whitley Bay has been named Restaurant of the Year in the North East at the annual awards which recognise those in the UK's Asian catering industry which are leading the way.
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Another big winner of the night was Vadah in Stockton-on-Tees which was awarded the title of Most Outstanding Restaurant of the Year in the North of England.
Shampan in Whitley Road, already an award-winning restaurant, has ranked number one in almost 100 of the town's restaurants on TripAdvisor for its menu of traditionally-cooked dishes capturing flavours from India, Punjab and Bangladesh.
It also boasts an upstairs Shampan Lounge, serving gin, prosecco and cocktails.
It reported the "excellent news" of its win on Facebook, thanking loyal customers and the "ever so hard working staff" and adding "without them this achievement was not possible".
Responses included "Wow congratulations what an achievement..well done to you all x"; "Well deserved Kami and staff great food and great service"; and "Huge congratulations guys! We love dining with you, so pleased you're getting the recognition you deserve."
In a post on its Facebook page, Vadah called the night amazing and said: "We feel so honoured and privileged even just to have been nominated for this prestigious award for the second time, but to have won again is just surreal."
This year's awards, which were attended by MPs Sir Alan Campbell, Mary Robinson and Sarah Atherton alongside industry professionals, restaurant owners and staff from across the country, are seen as particularly special given the challenges that restaurants have faced during the pandemic.
In addition, the Asian catering industry - which is valued at around £5 billion - has also seen a steep decline over recent years which is attributed to the shortage of skilled workers and lack of investment in training.
The National Curry Awards, initially launched to promote Asian businesses and showcase talented chefs, are now also about inspiring new generations to enter the industry.
It says that the winners, picked from entries from across the UK, represent "the best that can be achieved through dedication to creating delectable cuisine and to providing first-class customer service".
The event celebrates those on the forefront of restaurants as well as those behind the scenes.
Here are the full list of winners, in no particular order
Shampan Restaurant , Whitney Bay (Restaurant of the Year, North East)
Vadah , Stockton-on-Tees (Most Outstanding Restaurant of the Year, North of England)
Mohammed Iftekhar Hussain at Baby Kingfisher, Blackpool (Chef of the Year)
Mohammed Shajad Rahman at Blue Tiffin, Stoke-On-Trent (Chef of the Year)
Bengal Tiger Lily , Macclesfield (Restaurant of Year, Cheshire)
Bhaji Pala , Cheadle (Vegan Restaurant of the Year, North West)
Bokhara , Bangor (Restaurant of the Year, Bangor, Belfast)
Delhi-cious , Richmond (Takeaway of the Year, North East)
Ijazz , Wrexham (Restaurant of the Year, North Wales)
Mint Room , Barry (Restaurant of the Year, South Wales)
Paprika , Hyde (Takeaway of the Year, North West)
Shabna , Eccles (Takeaway of the Year, North West)
The National Curry Awards takes place each year. Nominations for favourite restaurants and takeaways for the 2022 awards can be made by emailing info@nationalcurryawards.com
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