British Curry Awards 2020 celebrates unsung heroes

The sixteenth annual British Curry Awards honoured the UK’s finest curry establishments while also recognising this year’s unsung heroes of the pandemic.

With the capital currently under tier-3 lockdown, the industry’s “Curry Oscars” was entirely virtual with the winners being announced live on Youtube earlier this evening.

The founder of the awards, Enam Ali MBE, said: “What has really touched me over the past year is our industry’s contribution in this pandemic, which was exceptional. Millions of free meals were provided to the NHS, care homes, food banks and vulnerable people.”

As with every year, a number of Halal and Halal-friendly restaurants were awarded for their hardwork with the first going to two Michelin chef Atul Kochhar’s Kanishka (rated 4.5/5 by FtLion in 2019) for Best Restaurant in London.

While the Best Delivery and Takeaway Award went to a small Bangladeshi venue in Royston called British Raj Express, this year’s ceremony also recognised some unsung heroes.

A number of restaurants received the Outstanding Service Award for helping vulnerable people within their local community including London’s Zaika, Scotland’s The Radhuni, and Northampton’s Saffron Restaurant.

The British Curry Awards also praised Dabirul Islam Choudhury OBE, a first generation centenarian, who once had a restaurant in the 1960’s in London’s St Albans, for his charity work.

Having raised over £420k for people affected by Covid-19 while fasting during the month of Ramadan, he was awarded the Inspirational Person of the Year with Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade, Emily  Thornberry, thanking him for his selfless effort.

This year’s Leadership Award went to the President of the British Bangladeshi Caterers Association (BBCA), Salim Choudhury, for helping to organise the contribution of over 25,000 meals to the homeless, NHS staff and hospices across the country.