UK
Leicester has officially been crowned England’s Curry Capital after winning the public vote and a rigorous judging process. The award, announced on June 18, 2024, marks the return of the competition for the first time since 2016.
Representatives from Leicester received the prestigious title during a ceremony at the King Richard III Visitor Centre in Leicester, hosted by Pukaar Group. The city will hold the title for two years, after which other cities will have the chance to compete in 2026, with the public voting again.
The original UK Curry Capital competition, established by the late Peter Grove, ran for 15 years and honored cities like Bradford, Glasgow, Leicester, Birmingham, and West London. Grove, passionate about Britain’s love for curry, aimed to highlight the culture and cuisine in the UK. His legacy continues with the revived competition, now organized online for English cities.
The public vote for this year’s competition ran until May 31, 2024, and attracted over 11,300 participants. Leicester emerged victorious, securing 89 percent of the votes. The city boasts the highest number of Indian restaurants per capita in the UK, with an average of 47 restaurants per 100,000 people, offering a diverse range of South Asian dishes from countries like Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.
Leicester’s vibrant curry culture is further showcased by the annual Leicestershire Curry Awards, which continues to grow in popularity. Popular local curry houses such as Chutney Ivy, Spice of India, Royal Leicester pub restaurant, and the Owl and Pussycat backed the city’s campaign. The judging panel included notable figures like Matt Wright, founder of the Great Food Club; Gabby Miller, founder of Cool as Leicester; Romail Gulzar; and Priti Raichura, luxury event and wedding planner.
Romail Gulzar, founder of Pukaar Group and the Leicestershire Curry Awards, expressed his delight: “It is great for Leicester to be named England’s Curry Capital! The city’s passion for curry, plus the quality and diversity of its dishes, is unrivaled, as I’ve seen year after year through the Leicester Curry Awards.”
Mike Denby, Director of Inward Investment and Place Marketing at Visit Leicester, also celebrated the accolade: “This is a fantastic recognition that celebrates the diversity of curry available in Leicester. Visit Leicester has shown its pride in our curry offerings through the #TasteThePlace campaign, which highlights Indian street food outlets and top curry houses, including a Leicester Curry Diploma to test your knowledge of this popular dish.”
As England’s Curry Capital, Leicester continues to showcase its rich culinary heritage and passion for curry, contributing significantly to the UK economy and cultural landscape.
