BRITISH CURRY AWARDS 2007
(21 October 2007)

Tory leader David Cameron paid tribute to the Asian Restaurant industry at the British Curry Awards 2007 on 21 October 2007 in London. Speaking via video link, Mr Cameron said: "The tremendous contribution that the British spice industry makes to our country is clear for all to see - the 100,000 people it employs, the billions it contributes to our economy and then there's the sheer enjoyment which the currently 10,000 curry restaurants provide. The 'Personality of the Year' went to Cyrus Todiwala MBE, owner of London's Café Spice Namaste and one of Britain's most admired Indian chefs.

"Whether you like a bhoona or a dopiaza, or whether you like a balti or whether, like some people, you look at the menu and you just panic and have the chicken tikka massala, we all have got our favourite curry and our favourite restaurant.

"But I know there are real challenges ahead for the future, especially in recruiting skilled staff. This is one reason why it's good to celebrate the industry as a whole and, in particular, excellence within it. Celebrating success helps to inspire others, too."

TheBritish Curry Awards, now in their third year, recognise and reward the best curry restaurants in ten regions of the UK. This year's winners were chosen from a record number of more than 18,000 public nominations covering 3,000-plus restaurants. The awards were hosted by TV and radio star Chris Tarrant, a self-confessed curry lover since his student days.

BRITISH CURRY AWARDS 2007 - WINNERS

Britain's top ten curry restaurants were named as:

Scotland / Northern Ireland: Britannia Spice, Edinburgh
North East: The Valley, Corbridge, Northumberland
North West: Indian Ocean, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire
East Midlands: Mem Saab, Northampton
West Midlands: Lasan, Birmingham
Wales: Bengal Dynasty, Flintshire
South East: Aziz, Oxford
South West: Rajpoot, Bath
London Central & City: La Porte des Indes, W1
London Suburbs: Brilliant Restaurant, Southall

Birmingham restaurant Asha's picked up the newly-introduced award as Newcomer of the Year for establishments that have been open for less than three years, and a special prize for Outstanding Customer Service went to Roti Restaurant in Edinburgh.

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