The finalists for the 9th annual Leicestershire Curry Awards have been officially announced, following a vibrant reveal event held last night at Leicester’s Athena Events Venue.
The announcement ceremony, attended by chefs, restaurateurs, sponsors, and supporters from across the county, marks a key step on the road to the prestigious awards night, scheduled to take place on September 15.
Picture credit: Pukaar News
Now firmly established as one of the region’s premier food events, the Leicestershire Curry Awards celebrate excellence across the local South Asian culinary scene. Finalists were unveiled across a range of categories including Best Pub, Best Takeaway, Best Vegetarian Restaurant, Best Fine Dining, and the coveted Restaurant of the Year.
The evening opened with Nikhil Wadhwa from Cobra Beer announcing the Best Pub category finalists:
- Royal Leicester’s
- The Owl & Pussycat
- Naseeb @ The Clowes
- Gurkha Curry, Leicester
- Sports Lounge, Oadby
BBC Leicester’s Sophie Cook, broadcasting live from the venue, followed with the shortlist for Best Street Food:
- Chatwala
- Desi Street Food
- Jai Somnath Taste of India
- My Delhi – Leicester
Picture credit: Pukaar News
Next, Nisha Goyal of Lemfi presented the Best Takeaway finalists:
- Satya Restaurant
- Aylestone Spice
- Anika Balti
- Hot Potato Shop
- Currylicious, Shepshed
Ross Tarbard from Visit Leicester revealed the names competing for Best Vegetarian Restaurant:
- Udupi Shivalli
- Sharmilee
- Tangoe Restaurant
- Chatwala
- Tulsi Sweetmart and Restaurant
In a special segment, Deputy Chief Constable Michaela Kerr — representing this year’s chosen charity, the Leicestershire Police Memorial Garden Project — announced the finalists for Best Fine Dining Restaurant:
- Indian Vojon
- Heritage India
- Soi Indian Restaurant (Melton Mowbray)
- Avatar Dining (Market Harborough)
- Amrut Leicester
- Chutney Ivy
Picture credit: Pukaar News
In the Best New Restaurant category, Bob Gill of John Lewis Leicester named the six establishments showcasing innovation and modern culinary flair:
- Amrut Leicester
- The Cue Club
- Tulsi Sweetmart and Restaurant
- Regent Grill Asilo, Hinckley
- Avatar Dining, Lutterworth
- Chef’s Flavour, Glenfield
The evening concluded with the much-anticipated Restaurant of the Year finalists, announced by Vijay Sharma from the University of Leicester:
- Spice of India
- Chutney Ivy
- Avatar Dining (Market Harborough)
- Sharmilee
- Chef’s Flavour (Glenfield)
- Indian Fusion – Markfield
Picture credit: Pukaar News
The finalists will now compete for top honours at the grand awards ceremony in September, where winners will be selected by a panel of judges based on mystery dining visits, public votes, and overall merit.
Many of the nominees expressed gratitude and excitement about being recognised.
“It’s a huge honour to be shortlisted,” said Jas Dhami of Naseeb @ The Clowes, a first-time finalist in the Best Pub category. “It validates the hard work of our team and the support of our customers.”
Picture credit: Pukaar News
Gaurav Goyal of My Delhi – Leicester added, “This kind of recognition is a massive boost, especially during challenging times in the industry. It lifts the entire team’s morale.”
The Leicestershire Curry Awards, organised by Pukaar Group, continue to shine a spotlight on the diversity, talent, and passion found across the county’s food scene.
Speaking on behalf of the event’s chosen charity, the Leicestershire Police Memorial Garden Project, Deputy Chief Constable Michaela Kerr reflected on the wider significance of the awards:
“These things matter a huge amount to us, and it’s wonderful to be here, surrounded by such joy and a genuinely uplifting atmosphere,” she said. “The positivity, the support, and the sense of community are so powerful. To see Leicestershire’s vibrant curry community come together like this is just fantastic.”
Picture credit: Pukaar News
For photos from the night, visit: https://leicestercurryawards.com/finalists-2025-gallery/
