After months of public voting, a shortlist reveal and an undercover mission undergone by a panel of mystery judges, all was finally revealed at Athena on Sunday 22nd April at the Leicester Curry Awards 2018.
Celebrating the finest curry houses Leicester has to offer, the highly glamorous red-carpet event didn’t disappoint.
Shimla Pinks on London Road was voted Restaurant of the Year, Chaai Paani walked away with Best Vegetarian Restaurant for the second year running and Paddy’s Marten Inn did the same for Best Pub Restaurant. Best Takeaway was awarded to Masalas, Khyber bagged best Fine Dining and Tadka won Best New Restaurant.
The sold-out event hosted around 500 guests and VIPs who enjoyed a sumptuous three-course meal catered by Ragamama Ragasan.
Hosted by ITV Central News Presenter, Sameena Ali-Khan, the dazzling evening was also filled with an abundance of lively entertainment with music by Leicester’s Got Talent 2017 overall winner Eva Rose, dance performances by Creative Edge and Leicester’s Got Talent 2017 dance category winner, Messiah Unsudimi, who all left the crowds in great spirits before the awards ceremony.
The event brought communities together in an aim celebrate the fantastic efforts local curry houses put into their businesses.
Leicester Curry Awards Founder, Romail Gulzar, said: “This year has been amazing and different to the last. We’ve managed to raise more money for our two charity partners LAMP and COPS with the help of National Samosa week which has been fantastic. We’ve added the Lifetime Achievement Awards this year which has recognised and remembered some great people. I would like to say a huge thank-you to everyone that attended this year including all of our sponsors. We can’t wait for 2019!”
The Leicester Curry Awards also supported two local charities who this year was Leicestershire Action for Mental Health (LAMP) and Care of Police Survivors (COPS). A total of £5,036 was raised and split equally between them.
Lifetime achievement awards were presented to the late Bhagwanji Lakhani, who founded Bobby’s- Leicester’s first vegetarian curry house, and the late Ashok Raval, who ran the Khyber restaurant with his brother Dinesh. Also receiving a lifetime achievement award was Jenifer, Lady Gretton- who will soon retire from her position as Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire in recognition of her hard work within the community.
Winners and Runners Up:
Best Takeaway, sponsored by Anand and Daewoo International Ltd
Winner – Masalas
Runner-up – Curry Royal
Runner-up – Bombay Bites
Best Pub Restaurant, sponsored by Cobra Beer
Winner – Paddy’s Marten Inn
Runner-up – The Woolpack
Runner-up – Flamingo Bar & Grill
Best Vegetarian Restaurant, sponsored by Bond Adams
Winner – Chai Paani
Runner-up – Royal Bites
Runner-up – Sharmilee
Best New Restaurant, sponsored by SFB Group
Winner – Tadka
Runner-up – Shakils
Runner-up – Tipu Sultan
Best Fine Dining Restaurant, sponsored by Glynis Wright & Co
Winner – Khyber
Runner-up – Everest Dine
Runner-up – Mumbai Inn
Restaurant of the Year, sponsored by Pukaar News
Winner – Shimla Pinks
Runner-up – Chutney Ivy
Runner-up – Dine India
