Leamington Spa restaurant celebrates success at national curry awards

A Leamington Spa restaurant is celebrating after being named a regional winner at one of the curry industry’s biggest events.

Paprika Club, in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, was named the region’s Restaurant of the Year at the 19th annual Bangladesh Caterers Association Awards on Sunday, 1 November.

Mohammed Azad from the restaurant said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have won this award. It is a fantastic achievement for the whole team and recognition of the hard work, passion and commitment that goes into giving our customers the best possible experience. We’re proud to represent Leamington Spa and would like to thank everyone who has supported us.”

The award was presented during a sold-out gala dinner for around 1,000 guests at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel in London, bringing together leading figures from across the British Bangladeshi catering and hospitality industry.

The ceremony was presented by talkTV broadcaster Ian Collins and Anila Dhami, the multi-award-winning news presenter and journalist.

Messages of support for the industry from King Charles III and Prime Minister Andy Burnham appeared in the official event magazine. The King’s message, sent from Buckingham Palace, praised the Awards and wished the event well, while the Prime Minister’s message congratulated those being recognised and acknowledged the contribution Bangladeshi hospitality businesses make to communities and the UK economy.

Special BCA Honours Awards were also presented during the evening to Kevin Bonavia MP, Brick Lane entrepreneur Abdul Jabbar and human rights activist Dr Nazia Khanum OBE, recognising their respective contributions to public service, business and the community.

BCA President Oli Khan MBE said: “It was wonderful to see so many people from across the British Bangladeshi catering and hospitality industry come together on Sunday. The Awards are about recognising excellence, but also about celebrating the people, businesses and shared heritage that make our industry so special. Congratulations to all our winners, whose achievements demonstrate the talent, commitment and resilience that continue to drive the sector forward.”

Tipu Rahman, Secretary General, said: “The Awards are an important opportunity to recognise the restaurants and people setting high standards across our industry. Sunday’s ceremony was a fantastic celebration, bringing colleagues together to share their achievements, make connections and recognise the contribution Bangladeshi hospitality continues to make to communities throughout the UK. We hope this year’s winners feel proud of what they have achieved.”

Faizul Haque, Treasurer, said: “Behind every successful restaurant is a business owner and a team creating jobs, supporting suppliers and contributing to their local high street. The Awards shine a light on that work and on the entrepreneurial spirit that keeps our industry moving. It was particularly pleasing to celebrate those achievements together at Sunday’s gala, and to recognise businesses whose contribution reaches far beyond the dining room.”

Naz Islam, Press and Publications Secretary, said: “The evening was a fitting celebration of the people, stories and traditions that have shaped Bangladeshi cuisine in Britain. It was a pleasure to see established names and emerging talent recognised alongside one another, and to bring the industry together to celebrate its achievements. The BCA has championed this community for 66 years, and sharing the successes of our winners is an important part of telling its story.”

The BCA Awards Committee Convener is celebrity chef Atik Rahman BEM, who added: “It was a privilege to recognise three individuals whose contributions have made a lasting difference in very different ways. Kevin Bonavia MP has shown his commitment to engaging with the BCA and championing the concerns of our industry; Abdul Jabbar’s pioneering enterprise helped shape the history of Brick Lane; and Dr Nazia Khanum OBE has dedicated her work to advancing equality and human rights. Their stories reflect the breadth of talent, service and commitment we wanted to celebrate through this year’s special BCA Honours Awards.”

The Bangladesh Caterers Association was set up in 1960 and represents 12,000 restaurateurs across the UK. For more details on the competition and the association visit www.bca1960.com