A POPULAR eatery and take away in Evesham has been recognised with a prestigious national award.
Evesham Balti on Waterside was announced as one of the country’s top-ten curry houses in the Editor’s Choice category at the 15th Curry Life Awards on October 13.
Hosted by curry magazine, Curry Life, the ceremony was held at London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square in Mayfair, London and attended by Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP.
The restaurant serves traditional Indian and Bangladeshi fusion dishes, and owner Ansar Miah expressed his delight at picking up the accolade.
Speaking after the ceremony, he said: “Winning an award has made everyone at the restaurant very happy and it will be great for business.
“I plan to be working for many more years as I enjoy cooking and interacting with customers. I’ve honed my recipes and style of cooking over the years, learning on the job and adding my own take on the dishes, many of which I created from scratch.
“I’m really proud of the staff and the way the business has gone from strength to strength.”
The awards event is an annual celebration of British curry houses, which have an annual turnover of over £4billion.
Curry Life Media Group editor, Syed Belal Ahmed, added: “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 on the night included Wes Streeting MP who congratulated all the nominees for their success at the awards.
He said: “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 former president of the CBI, Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE, founder and chairman of Cobra Beer who added: “The curry industry continues to play a crucial role in British society, contributing over £4billion 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.”
