AN INDIAN restaurant in York has been named restaurant of the year at the English Curry Awards.

Bombay Spice in Goodramgate won the accolade at a black tie ceremony held at a Manchester hotel, attended by more than 300 people and hosted by award winning comedian, Mani Liaqat.

The restaurant was one of two from York which were nominated for restaurant of the year in Yorkshire - the other being Mumbai Lounge in Fossgate.

Having won the regional award, Bombay Spice went on to win the national title, beating off competition from businesses in big cities including Bradford, Manchester, Birmingham and London.

York Press:

Owner Mohammad Ali Akbar said he never had any idea his restaurant might go beyond winning the regional award to take the national title and struggled when asked to give an acceptance speech.

“I was lost for words,” he said. “I was so surprised and delighted. This is a tribute to all the hard-working staff at the restaurant.”

He said that to add to his joy, his chef Mohammed Salman was also nominated in the chef of the year contest for the north.

He said the restaurant was opened about nine years ago by his brother and he had run it for the past couple of years.

Yasmin Mahmood, Operations Director of event organisers Oceanic Consulting, said the 6th annual English Curry Awards recognised and rewarded the hard work and commitment of those who worked tirelessly to provide the nation’s much loved dish – curry.

York Press:

“With the vast amount of restaurants and takeaways in England, curry is no doubt a much loved dish,” she said. “The public have voted in their thousands to recognise those hidden gems as well as the better known curry houses.

“With a vast amount of restaurants and takeaway in England the competition is always fierce.”