Curry house in Greater Manchester named best in UK at ‘Curry Oscars’

A Greater Manchester curry house has been awarded the coveted title of ‘Champion of Champions’ at the Asian Restaurant And Takeaway Awards 2023.

The Milnrow Balti Restaurant, based on Dale Street in Milnrow, Rochdale, beat some tough competition to be crowned champion at the prestigious awards ceremony which celebrates Pan Asian cuisine across the UK.

ARTA 2023, dubbed the ‘Curry Oscars’, welcomed a guest list of the nation’s most popular Asian restaurateurs alongside MPs, dignitaries, and celebrities as they collectively honoured the achievements of the industry.

The Milnrow Balti took home another award for Best Regional Restaurant of the Year, which it took home last year also.

In another win for Greater Manchester, the Bradshaw Tandoori in Bolton won Regional Takeaway of the Year North West.

The ceremony, held at Hilton Park Lane, London on October 8th, was hosted by TV presenters, Samantha Simmonds and Paul Martin. Martin also entertained the guests with a magic tricks show.

Interspersing the awards presentation were performances by singer Kavya Limaye and Ujaan Mukherjee – both performed live and delighted the audience with their talent.

ARTA Founder, Mohammed Munim, said: “I would like to congratulate all of the winners and finalists of ARTA 2023 – the Pan Asian restaurants, takeaways, and chefs who are the pride of the UK’s hospitality industry. 

“As the first and foremost award ceremony to honour the finest of the UK’s Asian restaurant and takeaway industry, we salute your resilience and fortitude as you continue to serve diners and customers across the UK in particularly challenging circumstances. 

“I would like to thank Lords, Ministers, High Commissioners, dignitaries, and guests for joining us on this occasion.”

He continued: “The UK’s popular Asian restaurant industry, synonymous with taking operational and business challenges such as staff shortages and the Covid pandemic head on, now faces a new set of challenges – the current cost of living crisis. 

“The cost of supplies, ingredients, and energy have risen significantly while customers are also facing tightened household budgets. 

“In this tough situation, ARTA once again honours the UK’s best Asian restaurants and takeaways who continue to deliver the best in the restaurant and home dining in these tough circumstances. 

“ARTA recognises this industry, which is the result and displays the successes of multiculturalism in the UK.”

Winners at the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards 2023:

• Champion of Champion: The Milnrow Balti Restaurant, Rochdale
• National Chef of the Year: The Chequers Indian Lounge, Great Blakenham, Ipswich
• National Takeaway of the Year: Kaani Kaana, Chelmsford
• Newcomer of the Year: Coco Buffet, Weston-super-Mare
• Fine Dine Restaurant of the Year: Dining Room, Sheerness, Rochester
• Street Food Restaurant of the Year: My Delhi, Newcastle upon Tyne
• Japanese Restaurant of the Year: Maneki Ramen, Worcester
• Korean Restaurant of the Year: Yori, Piccadilly Circus, London
• Sri Lankan Restaurant of the Year: Colombo Kitchen Restaurant, Worcester Park, Kingston upon Thames
• European Restaurant of the Year: Tamasha, Playa Blanca, Spain
• Regional Restaurant of the Year – Northern Ireland: Nu Delhi Restaurant Lounge, Belfast
• Regional Restaurant of the Year – Wales: Belfoi, Carmarthen, Swansea
• Regional Restaurant of the Year – North West: The Milnrow Balti Restaurant, Rochdale, Oldham
• Regional Restaurant of the Year – West Midlands: Shifnal Balti, Shifnal, Telford
• Regional Restaurant of the Year – East Midlands: Nazreen, Kettering, Northampton
• Regional Restaurant of the Year – Hertfordshire: Cumin Bar & Restaurant, Broxbourne, Enfield
• Regional Restaurant of the Year – Essex: Cinnamon, Epping, Chelmsford
• Regional Restaurant of the Year – Surrey: Tarana, Lingfield, Redhill
• Regional Restaurant of the Year – South Central: Jalpari of Woodley, Woodley, Reading
• Regional Restaurant of the Year – North London: The Rajdoot, Hampstead, London
• Regional Restaurant of the Year – South London: Saka Maka, Hither Green, London
• Regional Restaurant of the Year – West London: Durbar Tandoori Restaurant, Bayswater, London
• Regional Restaurant of the Year – South West: Daaku, Falmouth, Truro
• Regional Restaurant of the Year – Sussex: Tamasha, Lindfield, Redhill
• Regional Restaurant of the Year – North East: Raval Indian Brasserie & Bar, Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne
• Regional Takeaway of the Year – North East: Balti Hut, Linthorpe, Cleveland
• Regional Takeaway of the Year – North West: Bradshaw Tandoori, Bradshaw, Bolton
• Regional Takeaway of the Year – West Midlands: Chutney Express, Castle Bromwich, Birmingham
• Regional Takeaway of the Year – Essex: Kaani Kaana, Chelmsford
• Regional Takeaway of the Year – Surrey: Mohini Balti House, Carshalton, Sutton
• Regional Takeaway of the Year – Kent: Sher-E-Bangla, Longfield, Dartford
• Regional Takeaway of the Year – East Anglia: Eastern Spice Ipswich, Suffolk, Ipswich
• Regional Takeaway of the Year – East Midlands: Miah’s Takeaway, Heanor, Derby
• Regional Takeaway of the Year – Wales: Kalimirch, Barry, Cardiff
• Chef of the Year – Wales: Elaichi, Carmarthen, Swansea
• Chef of the Year – East Anglia: The Chequers Indian Lounge, Great Blakenham, Ipswich
• Chef of the Year – East London: The Empress, Whitechapel, East London
• Chef of the Year – South West: Spice Club, Bridgwater, Taunton
• Chef of the Year – Surrey: Indian Panorama, East Molesey, Kingston upon Thames
• Chef of the Year – Hertfordshire: Ruby, Hertford, Stevenage