Winners of Largest UK Asian Restaurant & Takeaway Awards I curry industry in solidarity post COVID & energy price rises

RUBY IN HERTFORD CROWNED BRITAIN’S BEST CURRY HOUSE AT TOP ASIAN RESTAURANT & TAKEAWAY AWARDS (ARTA) 2022

The UK’s top Asian Restaurants, Chefs and Takeaways were revealed at the Asian Restaurant & Takeaway Awards (ARTA) 2022, the largest celebration of Britain’s vibrant Asian restaurants and takeaway industry, held on Sunday 2nd October at the InterContinental Hotel at The O2-London. Hosted by Samantha Simmonds, BBC Journalist and Broadcaster, and Paul Martin, Magician and member of the world-famous Magic Circle, the coveted awards are in recognition of the UK’s best of South Asian cuisine across a series of prestigious regional and national categories.

From the National Champion of the Champions, Regional Restaurant of the Year, to National & Regional Chefs of the Year, and Takeaways of the Year Award, ARTA spotlighted the pinnacle of over 2,370 restaurants and takeaways across the UK that were nominated by the restaurant goers and food lovers of over 700,000 customer base of ARTA ‘s strategic partner, ChefOnline – the digital application to order food and book tables on the go – to unveil the finalists.

The grand award of National Champion of Champions was awarded to Ruby in Hertford, while My Delhi Indian Streetery in Newcastle upon Tyne won the National Chef of The Year 2022.

Bombay Cuisine in Prestwich, Manchester won the accolade of National Takeaway of The Year 2022, and Tamasha in Las Palmas in Spain was crowned European Restaurant of The Year 2022.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was conferred to Mr Muquim Ahmed, a renowned British entrepreneur who was a successful restaurateur and has spent over 40 years in building a rapidly growing business empire. He is also known as the King of Brick Lane.

The winners were selected by an esteemed panel of Ambassadors & Judges comprising of Chand Rahman, Executive Chef and Multi Award Winning Celebrity Chef; Mohammed Mujibur Rahman, Ex-Mayor of Corby; and Graham Taylor, Senior Chef Lecturer, Cambridge Regional College. Restaurants were awarded based on three key factors: Quality of Food, Quality of Service, and Value for Money, followed by the ARTA score, which includes Food Hygiene Rating and reviews from websites like TripAdvisor and Google. Restaurants that made it through the gruelling first phase were judged and invited to participate in a Cook-Off Competition. The score included various factors including flavour, appearance, texture, hygiene, and aroma

The UK’s Curry industry contributes £5 billion annually, which as of 2015 has accounted for a fifth of the restaurants in the UK dating back to the 1800’s. Today there are more Indian restaurants in Greater London than in Delhi and Mumbai combined.

Speaking about the Asian Restaurant & Takeaway Awards 2022, Salik Mohammed Munim, Founder of the ARTA Awards, said: “The ARTA Awards 2022 are a celebration and recognition of Britain’s vibrant Asian restaurants, takeaways, and chefs. Since the inception of ARTA, we have clearly seen the phenomenal quality of entrants, and the bar set by each, and every nominee has been increasing each year. I am truly blown away by the standards set by the competition and having been privy to exceptional quality and service extended by the nominees, I can confidently assert that Asian culinary industry in Britain is in safe hands. Every nominee and winner should be proud of their work.

The awards also offered solidarity and morale for the industry which is currently facing headwinds including with the high cost of energy, inflation, and the impact from the pandemic. Salik Mohammed added: “ARTA 2022 is extremely special for us, as it has returned after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The gathering was emotional and symbolic, as it brought together members of the Asian cuisine industry during an exceptionally difficult and testing time. The cost of energy crisis is a real threat to the sector, and many are faced with the prospect of closing doors after having served their local communities and patrons for decades. This has been a back-to-back assault on the sector, which was recently reeling and recovering from the pandemic, and staffing shortages post-Brexit. It was a poignant moment for us all, to be together and extend moral support and well-wishes. I truly wish us all the very best.”

ARTA 2022 was Powered by Work Permit Cloud, with ChefOnline as the Strategic Partner, and Madhu’s as the Catering Partner. ARTA 2022 was also proudly supported by PayTap, Switch Gas and Power, SuperPollo, Cobra Beer, Lexpert Solicitors, Kaiser & Associates, Square Mile Insurance Services, and charity partner Tafida Raqeeb Foundation.

The Asian Restaurant & Takeaway Awards (ARTA) 2022 National Winners:

National Champion of Champions 2022 – Ruby, Hertford.
National Chef of the Year 2022 – My Delhi Indian Streetery, Newcastle upon Tyne.
National Takeaway of the Year 2022 – Bombay Cuisine, Prestwich, Manchester.
European Restaurant of the Year – Tamasha, Las Palms – Spain.
Lifetime Achievement Award – Muquim Ahmed, successful restaurateur and known as the King of Brick Lane.

The Asian Restaurant & Takeaway Awards (ARTA) 2022 Regional Winners:

Regional Restaurant of the Year: East Anglia – Pipasha, Cambridge
Regional Restaurant of the Year: East London – Bengal Tiger, City of London
Regional Restaurant of the Year: East Midlands – Ashiana Indian & Bangladeshi Restaurant, Newark
Regional Restaurant of the Year: Essex – British India Restaurant, Frinton-on-Sea
Regional Restaurant of the Year: Hertfordshire – Ruby, Hertford
Regional Restaurant of the Year: North East – The Vine Indian Cuisine, Sheffield
Regional Restaurant of the Year: North London – Bayleaf Restaurant, North London
Regional Restaurant of the Year: Northern Ireland – Nu Delhi Restaurant Lounge
Regional Restaurant of the Year: North West – The Milnrow Balti, Rochdale
Regional Restaurant of the Year: Scotland – Spice Tandoori, Elgin
Regional Restaurant of the Year: South Central – Radhuni, Princes Risborough
Regional Restaurant of the Year: South East – Tarana Bar & Restaurant, Crawley
Regional Restaurant of the Year: South London – Indian Room, Balham
Regional Restaurant of the Year: South West – Alcombe Tandoori, Alcombe
Regional Restaurant of the Year: Surrey – Tarana Lingfield, Lingfield
Regional Restaurant of the Year: Wales – The Grand Sultan, Port Talbot
Regional Restaurant of the Year: West London – Madhu’s of Mayfair, Mayfair
Regional Restaurant of the Year: West Midlands – Delhi 6, Sutton Coldfield

Regional Chef of The Year: East Anglia – Lalbagh Bangladeshi & Indian Diner, Cambridge
Regional Chef of The Year: East Midland – The Spice Lounge, Rushden
Regional Chef of The Year: Essex – Cinnamon, Epping
Regional Chef of the Year: North East – My Delhi Indian Streetery, Newcastle upon Tyne
Regional Chef of The Year: North London – The Rajdoot, Hampstead
Regional Chef of The Year: South London – Silka Borough Market, Southwark
Regional Chef of The Year: Wales – Elaichi, Carmarthen
Regional Chef of The Year: West Midlands – Poncho Khana, Birmingham

Regional Takeaway of the Year: East London – Safa Indian Restaurant, Highams Parks
Regional Takeaway of the Year: Hertfordshire – Aroma, Radlett
Regional Takeaway of the Year: Middlesex – Hampton Tandoori, Hampton
Regional Takeaway of the Year: North East – Khushboo Bangladeshi & Indian Takeaway, Sheffield
Regional Takeaway of the Year: North London – Bayleaf Takeaway, Whetstone
Regional Takeaway of the Year: North West – Bombay Cuisine, Prestwich
Regional Takeaway of the Year: South Central – Peppermills Takeaway, Ascot
Regional Takeaway of the Year: South East – Polash Indian Takeaway, Dartford
Regional Takeaway of the Year: South London – Curry World, South London
Regional Takeaway of the Year: Surrey – Mohini Balti House, Carshalton
Regional Takeaway of the Year: Wales – Kalimirch, Barry