The winners of the Northern England Curry Awards 2025 have been reveled
Dishes served at The Original Third Eye restaurant in Didsbury (Image: Manchester Evening News)
Awards season is in full swing for the hospitality industry and here in Greater Manchester a number of restaurants and takeaways have been named best in class.
The winners of the Northern England Curry Awards 2025 have bee revealed with dining spots across Manchester, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cumbria and Merseyside all picking up gongs. Winners were announced at a ceremony which took place on Monday (22 September) at Moor Hall Hotel & Spa, in Birmingham.
Organisers have said that this year’s finalists represent the “crème de la crème” of curry industry, showcasing the unrivalled skills and creativity of chefs, restaurateurs, and takeaway services across the North of England.
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Irfan Younis, Spokesperson for the Northern Curry Awards 2025 said: “It was another memorable event that honoured the dedication and hard work of the nominees and celebrated the rich tapestry of flavours that the curry industry brings to the English culinary landscape.
The Great Kathmandu
“The Awards provide a platform to applaud the exceptional efforts of those who have made significant contributions to the curry sector and continue to elevate the nation’s love for curry.
“We would like to congratulate all of our winners on their incredible accomplishments.”
The awards are broken down into a number of categories including curry of restaurant of the year for different counties and regions, as well as restaurant of the year by cuisine, and takeaway of the year.
Hungamaa in Chorlton(Image: Supplied)
Here in Greater Manchester, Shazia’s Street Food in Bury took home the best Curry Restaurant, while; for the city centre, the award went to Bardez in Rusholme.
Meanwhile, Soho Spice in Bolton nabbed the prize for Indian Restaurant of the Year in Greater Manchester, and The Original Third Eye in Didsbury took home the Manchester equivalent.
It was a double victory for The Original Third Eye, the much-loved Nepalese and Indian dining spot on Wilmslow Road, who also took home the award for Chef of The Year (voter’s choice) for Arun Kumar.
The team at The Original Third Eye picking up their award (Image: Supplied)
The recognition is made even more special for the team as the restaurant celebrates its 25th anniversary this year too.
“We honestly didn’t expect it, but we’re over the moon to share that The Original Third Eye has won,” they told the Manchester Evening News.
“To win this on our 25th anniversary feels extra special. Hospitality hasn’t been easy – with rising costs, tough competition, and so many challenges – but this makes it all worthwhile.
Namaste Nepal
“This win isn’t just ours, it’s for our loyal guests, our hardworking staff, our supportive family, and involving memory of the late Saudagar Mal, father of Chef Arun and his biggest inspiration.”
Other notable wins for Greater Manchester included Takeaway & Home Delivery of the Year which went to Zafrani Takeaway in Manchester.
The Great Kathmandu also nabbed Nepalese Restaurant Of The Year and Lifetime Achievement Award, which went to Mr. Gopal Dangol.
Northern England Curry Awards 2025 winners – full list:
Curry Restaurant of the Year (Cheshire)
- Viceroy Indian Cuisine (Macclesfield)
Curry Restaurant of the Year (Cumbria)
- No. 3 Curry House (Milnthorpe)
Curry Restaurant of the Year (Lancashire)
- Barlick Raj Balti (Barnoldswick)
Curry Restaurant of the Year (Merseyside)
- Ikkayees Indian Restaurant (Liverpool)
Curry Restaurant of the Year (Greater Manchester)
- Shazia’s Street Food (Bury)
Curry Restaurant of the Year (Manchester)
Indian Restaurant of the Year (Cheshire)
Indian Restaurant of the Year (Cumbria)
- Bari at Bird In Hand (Wigton)
Indian Restaurant of the Year (Lancashire)
- Thira Restaurant, Blackburn
Indian Restaurant of the Year (Merseyside)
Indian Restaurant of the Year (Greater Manchester)
Indian Restaurant of the Year (Manchester)
- The Original Third Eye (Manchester)
Takeaway of the Year
- Shagor (Burnley)
- Outstanding Achievement went to Sunrise Tandoori (Wigan)
- Recognised for Excellence was Bilash Indian Takeaway (Warrington)
Outstanding Indian Takeaway Of The Year
- Taste of Raj (Bolton)
- Outstanding Achievement went to Premier Massala Indian Takeaway (Manchester)
- Recognised for Excellence was Shapla Indian Takeaway (Chorley)
Takeaway & Home Delivery of the Year
- Zafrani Takeaway (Manchester)
- Outstanding Achievement went to Mumbai Spice, Manchester
- Recognised for Excellence was The Begum’s (Wythenshawe)
Outstanding Indian Restaurant
- Balti Spice (Saint Helens)
- Outstanding Achievement went to Eastern Balti (Kendal)
- Recognised for Excellence was Hungamaa (Manchester)
Most Wanted Indian Restaurant
- La Minhaz (Warrington)
- Outstanding Achievement went to Barlick Raj Balti (Barnoldswick)
- Recognised for Excellence was Sangam Balti House (Preston)
Kitchen of the Year
- The Clay Oven (Manchester)
- Outstanding Achievement went to Coriander Central (Manchester)
- Recognised for Excellence was Bombay Flavours (Manchester)
Fine Dining Indian Restaurant of the Year
- 29 States the Indian Kitchen (York)
- Outstanding Achievement went to Indian Plaza (Stockport)
- Recognised for Excellence was Indian Tiffin Room (Leeds)
Street food Restaurant of the Year
- Chappati Corner
- Outstanding Achievement went to Bardez- Indian Street Food & Grill
- Recognised for Excellence was Sanskruti Restaurant
Nepalese Restaurant Of The Year
- The Great Kathmandu
- Outstanding Achievement went to Namaste Nepal
- Recognised for Excellence was Durbar Square
Pakistani Restaurant of the Year
- Lala’s (Leeds)
- Outstanding Achievement went to Lahori Karahi
- Recognised for Excellence was Lahori Badsha
Chef of the Year (Voter’s Choice)
- Chef at The Original Third Eye
- Outstanding Achievement went to Chef at Mangrove Restaurant
- Recognised for Excellence was Chef at Indian Lounge
Restaurant Manager of the Year
- Manager at Lala’s
- Outstanding Achievement went to Manager at Indian Ocean
- Recognised for Excellence was Manager at Shazia’s Street Food
Lifetime Achievement Award
- Mr. Gopal Dangol – The Great Kathmandu
Special Recognition Award
North England Curry Champions of the Year
- International Restaurant (Bradford)