Winners of the inaugural London Curry Awards 2018 are…?

A number of Halal-friendly restaurants and organisations from across London enjoyed a successful evening last night at the inaugural London Curry Awards.

Held at Chak89, a Halal Indian restaurant in Surrey, the very best were recognised and awarded for their contribution during a difficult post-Brexit period for the curry industry.

With government immigration policies having led to a shortage of qualified chefs, curry houses across the country have reportedly been forced to close at a rate of four per week.

Only last year, Lib Dem MP Sir Vince Cable went so far as to call for the temporary introduction of what has been dubbed a “vindaloo visa” to save the nation’s “favorite cuisine”.

But the London Curry Awards follows on from the success of the decade-long Scottish Curry Awards and The English Curry Awards, which are now in their eighth year.

Some notable winners from yesterday include FtL’s Restaurant of the Year 2017, Grand Trunk Road, who won the Best Fine Dining Indian Restaurant.

Chef Abdul Yaseen of the renowned Indian restaurant Darbaar was recognised as the Chef of the Year (Industry Choice).

Run by the ethnic consulting and promotions organisation Oceanic Consulting, the event also helped raise funds for the Well Foundation, a water charity that has aided thousands in Africa and Asia over the past two years.

Irfan Younis, CEO of Oceanic Consulting, said: “The inaugural London Curry Awards have been a massive success and we’re already looking forward to next year. We’d also like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of this year’s winners and finalists.”

There were 24 awards presented on the evening and the winners are as follows:

• Dining Experience of the Year North: Chaseside Indian Restaurant (Enfield)
• Dining Experience of the Year East: Delhi Live (Havering)
• Dining Experience of the Year South East: Everest Inn (Lewisham)
• Dining Experience of the Year South West: Indian Paradise (Croydon)
• Dining Experience of the Year West: Anjanaas South Indian Cuisine (Brent)
• Dining Experience of the Year Central: Haandi (Kensington & Chelsea)
• Dining Experience of the Year Overall: Haandi (Kensington & Chelsea)

• Restaurant of the Year North: Saathi Restaurant (Enfield)
• Restaurant of the Year East: India Garden (Redbridge)
• Restaurant of the Year South East: Pink Garlic Masala (Bexely)
• Restaurant of the Year South West: Royal Tandoori (Croydon)
• Restaurant of the Year West: Hundred Degrees (Harrow)
• Restaurant of the Year Central: Rangez Indian Restaurant (Hammersmith & Fulham)
• Restaurant of the Year Overall: India Garden (Redbridge)

• Takeaway of the Year North: Yak and Yeti (Camden)
• Takeaway of the Year East: The Curry Hut (Tower Hamlets)
• Takeaway of the Year South East: Tiffin Choice (Bromley)
• Takeaway of the Year South West: Bombay Bicycle Chef (Lambeth)
• Takeaway of the Year West: Curry Express (Hammersmith and Fulham)
• Takeaway of the Year Central: Masala Express (Hammersmith and Fulham)
• Takeaway of the Year Overall: Yak and Yeti (Camden)

Chef of the Year (Industry Choice): Abdul Yaseen at Darbaar Restaurant (Hackney)

Best Fine Dining Indian Restaurant: Grand Trunk Road (Redbridge)

Chef of the Year (Voter’s Choice): Nand Kishor at Dastaan (Kingston Road)

Curry Lover of the Year: Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch

Curry King or Queen: Adarsh Radia (Dishoom, Westminster)

Curry Entrepreneur of the Year: Anilas Sauces

Caterer of the Year: Veer Events London (Barking)

Best Marketing Campaign: Dishoom (Westminister)

Best Restaurant Ambience: Chettinad Restaurant (Camden)

Team of the Year: Brilliant Restaurant (Ealing)

Celebrity Chef of the Year: Dipna Anand at Brilliant Restaurant

Manager of the Year: Krutin Garg at Hundred Degrees (Harrow)

Outstanding Curry Restaurant of the Year: The Voujon Indian Cuisine (Waltham Forest)

Outstanding Indian Restaurant Of The Year: The Cinnamon Club (Westminister)

Curry Legends: Madhu’s (Ealing)

Healthy Curry Of The Year: Bonoo Indian Tapas (Barnet)

Vegetarian Restaurant Of The Year: Thakers (Hounslow)

Restaurant Design Of The Year: Cinnamon Bazaar (Westminister)

Recognition Award: Olives Indian Cuisine (Camden)

Home Delivery of the Year: Coconut Chilli

Editors Choice Restaurant Of The Year: Karachi Cuisine (Croydon)