Two Lancashire curry houses picked up two of the main honours at the ‘Nation’s Curry Awards’.

The Thira Restaurant, Blackburn town centre, scooped the South Indian Restaurant of The Year honour at the awards held at the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel on Monday night. The Barlick Raj Balti in Barnoldswick was named Balti Restaurant of the Year.

The event recognised and celebrated the talents and hard work of individuals and businesses within the UK’s curry industry. 

Winners and highly commended honours were announced in a range of categories, including Best Chef of the Year, Vegetarian Restaurant of the Year and Best Customer Service.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Thira: Blackburn’s hidden gem in the centre of town

The Thira Restaurant opened in 2017 on Darwen Street and has been shortlisted for a number of curry awards.

It is run by Subramaniam Iyer and business partner Bijumon S. Pillai.

Mr Iyer said: “We are delighted to be named South Indian Restaurant of the year.

“We have some loyal customers with people travelling from across the borough and Lancashire.

“I think we offer something a little different with South Indian cuisine and a variety of exclusive dishes.

“We would like to thank all our customers for their support.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

Barlick Raj Balti thank customers for honour

The Barlick Raj Balti is based on Station Road in Barnoldswick. The Balti dish hails from parts of Indian and Pakistan but is synonymous in Britain with Birmingham.

The team posted pictures of staff at the awards in Manchester.

They said: “Words cannot describe the feelings when we were announced as the winner! 

“Our host Tommy Sandhu, a podcast and TV presenter, absolutely entertained everyone with his sense of humour.

“We would deeply like to thank our loyal customers and like to say Barlick Raj is what it is cause of its customers and we really appreciate your support.”

A spokesperson from Oceanic Events who host the awards said: “It was an unforgettable night, filled with incredible food, vibrant energy, and passionate conversations.

“We have celebrated the finest in the UK’s curry scene, recognising the creativity, innovation, and exceptional service that have become synonymous with this beloved cuisine.

“The UK’s curry industry is a vital part of our culture, and these awards recognised the exceptional talents of the individuals and businesses that make it so special. We want to congratulate all the winners and highly commended recipients on their accomplishment.”