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Bradford has been named Curry Capital of Britain for the sixth time in succession.
Close on the heels of the west Yorkshire city was past winner Leicester, with Cardiff taking third spot this year.
The Curry Capital of Britain was created in 1999 by the late Peter Grove and his wife Colleen who chaired The National Dome Grading Scheme (now The Federation of Specialist Restaurants)
The event idea arose from the bad publicity following racial unrest in parts of London some years ago. The intention was to provide a showcase for selected cities in the UK with large ethnic communities through the medium of food and drink, focusing on what the cities do for their ethnic communities and, in return, what the multiracial community brings to that city.
A more recent focus has been on the co-operation between the council, restaurants and education bodies to promote the curry industry, thereby assisting in alleviating unemployment and promoting community cohesion.
Organiser and head of Judging, Colleen Grove, said: ‘To be honest, Bradford have won so many times now we were actually trying to find a reason why they should NOT win the title again! However, it is a well-deserved victory.
“The Bradford team, headed by Patricia Tillotson, tourism manager at Visit Bradford (the tourism department for Bradford Metropolitan District Council), works so well together to best demonstrate the level of co-operation and community spirit that already exists in the city. Theirs is the kind of community cohesion that Peter envisaged when he set up the competition 15 years ago.
“The judges also continue to be impressed by the fact that the Bradford team not only submits a bid, but surrounds and reinforces it with various attendant projects, events and activities that are all designed to help others – be it in the form of charitable contributions or practical therapy or aid, such as the Curry Garden project in Peel Park.
The team voted to represent Bradford are:
Akbars 1276 Leeds Road Bradford BD3 8LF Tel: 01274 773311 www.akbars.co.uk
Aakash Bradford Road, Cleckheaton BD13 Tel: 01274 878866 www.aakashrestaurant.co.uk
Kiplings 834-836 Harrogate Road Bradford BD10 Tel: 01274 622 332 www.kiplingsrestaurant.co.uk
Shimla Spice 14 South Street Keighley Tel: 01535 602204 www.shimlaspice.co.uk
Other Indian restaurants in Bradford receiving considerable votes are: Prashad, Omar Khan, Karachi, Kashmir, Mumtaz, Aagrah, Azeems, Lahore Cafe, Kebabesh.
