Bombay Cuisine: Manchester takeaway named best in the country at Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards 2022

A Greater Manchester eatery has been named the country’s best Asian takeaway as the city-region scooped three prizes at a national awards ceremony.

There was a trio of local victories as the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards 2022 (ARTA) celebrated the best curry houses around with a glitzy London prize-giving.

The biggest Greater Manchester winner on the night was Bombay Cuisine in Prestwich, which took home two accolades including National Takeaway of The Year 2022.

Organisers said the prize-giving was important to bring the industry together when it is still trying to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic and facing a tough winter with soaring energy bills.

Which prizes were won by Greater Manchester businessesat the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards 2022?

Altogether three prizes were won by Greater Manchester curry houses at the awards ceremony, held in the capital city in the InterContinental Hotel at The O2.

The biggest local winner was Bombay Cuisine in Bury, which was crowned the National Takeaway of the Year 2022.

On its way to being crowned the country’s finest takeaway it picked up another accolade in the shape of the North West’s best takeaway of the year.

Hassan Ali, Bombay Cuisine’s manager and the son of the business’ founder Ilias Ali, said: “It’s a surreal feeling to win. Without the support of our customers it wouldn’t have been possible.

“It feels amazing to know we have customers like that behind us and backing us.

“It’s a proud feeling for us.

“When we won the award we were obviously over the moon. Awards like this, things like this, not everyone can win them. When we got up on the stage it just felt amazing.”

The other winner was the The Milnrow Balti in Rochdale, which was named as the North West’s restaurant of the year.

The winners for the regional and national prizes were selected from an impressive list of 2,370 nominations.

Journalist Samantha Simmonds and magician Paul Martin hosted the ceremonies as the finest South Asian cuisine was celebrated and restaurants, takeaways and chefs from across the UK all picked up awards.

The 2022 awards marked the return of the event following a two-year hiatus due to the novel coronavirus.

What was said about the awards?

The organisers said the ARTA Awards is an important place to recognise excellence in the UK’s £5bn curry industry.

Salik Mohammed Munim, the awards founder, said: “The ARTA Awards 2022 are a celebration and recognition of Britain’s vibrant Asian restaurants, takeaways, and chefs.

“Since the inception of ARTA, we have clearly seen the phenomenal quality of entrants, and the bar set by each, and every nominee has been increasing each year.

“I am truly blown away by the standards set by the competition and having been privy to exceptional quality and service extended by the nominees, I can confidently assert that Asian culinary industry in Britain is in safe hands. Every nominee and winner should be proud of their work.”

However, the awards ceremony is also a place to show solidarity as the industry attempts to recover from Covid-19 and faces spiralling bills as part of the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Mr Munim said: “The gathering was emotional and symbolic, as it brought together members of the Asian cuisine industry during an exceptionally difficult and testing time.

“The cost of energy crisis is a real threat to the sector, and many are faced with the prospect of closing doors after having served their local communities and patrons for decades.

“This has been a back-to-back assault on the sector, which was recently reeling and recovering from the pandemic, and staffing shortages post-Brexit.

“It was a poignant moment for us all, to be together and extend moral support and well-wishes. I truly wish us all the very best.”