A Blackburn restaurant specialising in South Indian and Keralan food is celebrating after being named Curry Restaurant of the Year.
Thira Restaurant, in Darwen Street, said the award was a proud moment for its owners and team, who have built the business around dishes inspired by the southern Indian state of Kerala.
The restaurant was founded in 2016 by Bijumon Kalathanatt Sankara Pillai and his business partner, Subramaniam Iyer.
In a message shared after the award, the pair thanked their staff and customers for supporting the restaurant throughout its journey.
They said: “We are incredibly proud and honoured that Thira Restaurant has been awarded Curry Restaurant of the Year.
“Our food is unique and different from other Indian restaurants in the area. We specialise in South Indian food, especially from Kerala.
“This achievement would not have been possible without our amazing team. Thank you for your hard work, dedication, passion and commitment every single day. This award belongs to all of you.”
The restaurant is located at the corner of Darwen Street and St Peter Street and has become known locally for its Keralan dishes, including traditional South Indian meals and special-event menus.
It recently offered an Onam Sadhya—a 24-item vegetarian feast—during the Onam harvest festival.
READ MORE: Thira Blackburn serves up ‘tasty’ 24-item vegetarian meal
Thira takes its name from the Malayalam word for “waves”, a reference to Kerala’s coastline and backwaters.
Co-owner and chef Bijumon previously worked for the Taj Hotels group in India and has spoken of bringing flavours from his hometown of Alleppey, Kerala, to Lancashire.
The restaurant has received several accolades in recent years.
It was named South Indian Restaurant of the Year at the English Curry Awards 2025, while it was also listed as a finalist in the Curry Restaurant of the Year categories at the North England Curry Awards.
Thira’s latest recognition comes from the Northern England Curry Awards, organised by Oceanic Awards and powered by Curry CNCT.
The annual awards celebrate restaurants, takeaways, chefs, and hospitality businesses across the region’s curry industry.
Yasmin Mahmood, speaking on behalf of Oceanic Awards, said: “The Northern England Curry Awards are dedicated to recognising the incredible talent, hard work and passion that exists throughout the region’s curry industry.
“These businesses are at the heart of their communities and play a significant role in the hospitality sector.
“We congratulate all of this year’s winners and finalists on their achievements. Their commitment to quality, innovation and customer service continues to raise standards across the industry, and they should be extremely proud of this recognition.”
The Thira team added: “To all our wonderful customers, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued support, loyalty and love.
“Every visit, review and recommendation means so much to us. Thank you for believing in Thira Restaurant and being part of our journey.”
Share