Arju Miah MBE, owner of The Taj Mahal in Chippenham, tells Curry Life how his achievements have had an impact above and beyond the hospitality industry Arju Miah MBE has been involved with several restaurants since his arrival in the UK in 1980. The one remaining is his longest-standing venture, the 48-seater Taj Mahal in Chippenham in Wiltshire, which opened in 1989. “My intention when I came to the UK was to one day have a successful business so I could stand on my own two feet,” he says. “Owning a business meant I could have a bit more freedom and hopefully provide security for my family ..read more

By Cosmo Brockway DEEP IN THE KENT COUNTRYSIDE, surrounded by oast houses and hop fields, lies the pretty village of Tenterden. Known as the ‘Jewel of the Weald’ the tranquil market town has a huge amount to offer a visitor, from quaint antique shops to scenic rides on the Kent & East Sussex Railway. Tenterden High Street is one of its most charming features, a tree-lined, wide boulevard of clapboard and Georgian shops and houses, it is as British as apple pie and custard and is a fine place to wander down on a summer day. At the very end of the picturesque High Street is one of Tenterden ..read more

Zolsha has been going strong for 15 years and is looking to make the next 15 and more count Azid Ahmed, or Ash as he prefers to be known, has taken an unusual path to opening his own curry house. No one in his family had former ties to the restaurant industry but over the last 14 years, he has established Zolsha as a destination restaurant, based on his passion for food and service and a willingness to keep on learning. The restaurant is based in Howden near Goole in Yorkshire and regularly attracts positive reviews from diners, who praise its ‘excellent reputation’, ‘varied menu’ and ‘friend ..read more

Takeaways are big business, having grown across the UK in the last year. Curry Life catches up with two Indian takeaways to find out where the challenges lie and their tips for success Whichever survey you look at, It’s clear the takeaway restaurant industry boomed in 2021. Figures from Barclaycard released last December showed that spending on takeaways and fast food increased by 62% in 2021, largely fuelled by the pandemic. A study conducted among 2,000 adults, commissioned by Vodafone together with Just Eat,  shows that the Brits are a nation of takeaway lovers. The findings, released ..read more

An old friend used to be fond of saying – ‘once you’ve been to one Indian restaurant, you’ve been to them all.’ He’d obviously never been to the Riverside Spice in the heart of the Essex countryside  – which stands out both for a beautiful setting and its highly individualised approaches to traditional dishes. Owner Abdul Hamid sums up the restaurant’s philosophy thus – “I’ve always said I wanted the restaurant’s food to have the same sort of attention to detail as home cooking and we have spent at lot of time and effort tweaking our menu to reflect this.  “The resulting recipes are ..read more

A Club Above the Rest Paprika Club is wowing diners with its refined dishes, its contemporary design and its consistent approach Located in Royal Leamington Spa, Paprika Club has been welcoming customers since 1994. The 90-seater restaurant, opened by Mohammed Azad on the former site of another Indian restaurant, recently unveiled an extensive refurbishment, carried out during the various lockdown periods in England. The result is a restaurant with a more sleek and modern look, featuring bold blue and yellow colours and subtle lighting. “We put together a new colour scheme, changed the furnit ..read more

If you’re a lover of street food – but also enjoy a relaxed and comfortable dining experience – is it possible to have the best of both worlds? The answer is an emphatic ‘yes’ if you can find one of the few high quality restaurants specialising in street food – and, if it’s authentic Asian street food you’re after, look no further that Chit Chaat Chai in south-west London. Located in a trendy Wandsworth high street, Chit Chaat Chai really succeeds in its efforts to replicate the feel and atmosphere of eating street food in a restaurant environment. There are vibrant artworks from Asian artists ..read more

Renowned Indian restaurateur Zorawar Kalra has gained a hard-won reputation for innovation and trendsetting in his homeland, with a penchant for offering unusual takes on traditional dishes. Zorawar Kalra, Founder & Managing Director, Massive Restaurants Pvt. Ltd So when he announced the launch of his first London eatery, Farzi Cafe, promising local ‘twists’ on globally famous food, there was understandable fanfare around the opening. Anticipation was further stoked by advanced publicity saying Kalra was especially pleased to be coming to London, because the city’s access to fresh and vari ..read more

Mahaan shows its might Indian restaurants are aplenty in West Sussex’s seaside town of Worthing, but the mighty Mahaan stands out. The attractive blue name board, doors and window frames immediately catches the eye of any passer-by, who can be assured of ‘authentic Bangladeshi and Indian’ food. Mahaan, as the name suggests, is a great place for lunch and dinner, with family, friends or colleagues with a seating capacity for around 150. It has a bar and waiting area, where you can be seated comfortably or grab a drink before you place your order.      The claims of bein ..read more