A RESTAURANT has become the curry king of North Yorkshire after receiving a top award in the industry.

The Mumbai Lounge, in Fossgate, York, can now lay claim to being the best curry house in their region after winning the Bangladesh Caterers Association (BCA) Curry Restaurant of the Year 2018 for the Yorkshire and Humberside Region.

The restaurant impressed judges who travelled across Britain in the hunt for the nation's top restaurant.

Bangladesh Caterers Association President, Kamal Yakub, said: “The finalists have all gone above and beyond to demonstrate their passion for great cuisine.”

The association visited more than 12,000 curry restaurants with only 38 making it to the shortlist finals at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel.

Manager of the Mumbai Lounge, Jamal Shah, said that it was an honour to receive the award, which was down to the hard work of all the waiters, caterers and cooks involved.

He said: “Last year we won the British Curry Award, the Oscars of curry competitions and now to win this competition is such an honour.

“To attend these events you have to be picked.

“Diners who work for the British Curry Awards could come in at any time throughout the year so the staff have to be working hard and providing a quality dinner service every night.

“We can’t thank them enough for that."

Mr Shah said that the team had no time to relax after being presented with the award as several high profile snooker players were dining in the restaurant during the UK Open currently being held in York.

He said: "We had a few players in on Saturday and Sunday night so our minds were off the awards and back on to cooking great dishes.”