The aroma of excitement filled the air as the finalists for the 9th annual Leicestershire Curry Awards were unveiled during a sizzling ceremony held tonight (Monday,July 21).
One of the county’s most anticipated culinary celebrations, the awards night lit up the glamorous Athena Events Venue in Leicester, bringing together the region’s top chefs, restaurateurs, and food lovers for an unforgettable evening.
Picture credit: Pukaar News
Hosted by MC Priti Raichura, the event marked a key milestone on the road to the grand finals, which will take place on September 15.
Kicking off the finalist announcements was Nikhil Wadhwa from Cobra Beer, who revealed the contenders for Best Pub:
- Royal Leicester’s
- The Owl & Pussycat
- Naseeb @ The Clowes
- Gurkha Curry, Leicester
- Sports Lounge, Oadby
“It’s a privilege to be part of this,” said Jas Dhami of Naseeb @ The Clowes. “Thank you to the Leicestershire Curry Awards for providing a platform for us to be recognised. This is actually the first time we’ve taken part, and to be a finalist is a huge honour.”
Picture credit: Pukaar News
Sophie Cook from BBC Leicester, broadcasting live from the venue, introduced the finalists for Best Street Food:
- Chatwala
- Desi Street Food
- Jai Somnath Taste of India
- My Delhi – Leicester
“Everyone in this room is a winner, but to be recognised as a finalist is just the icing on the cake,” said Gaurav Goyal of My Delhi. “I dedicate this recognition to the entire restaurant industry, which is under a lot of pressure at the moment. This will lift the spirits of the hardworking teams who keep pushing to survive. Thank you to the Leicestershire Curry Awards.”
Picture credit: Pukaar News
Next up, Nisha Goyal, South Asia Growth Manager (UK) at Lemfi, revealed the finalists for Best Takeaway:
- Satya Restaurant
- Aylestone Spice
- Anika Balti
- Hot Potato Shop
- Currylicious, Shepshed
Ross Tarbard from Visit Leicester presented the nominees for Best Vegetarian Restaurant, highlighting the county’s love of plant-based cuisine:
- Udupi Shivalli
- Sharmilee
- Tangoe Restaurant
- Chatwala
- Tulsi Sweetmart and Restaurant
Adding a note of distinction, Deputy Chief Constable Michaela Kerr, representing the Leicestershire Police Memorial Garden Project (this year’s chosen charity), announced the finalists for Best Fine Dining Restaurant:
- Indian Vojon
- Heritage India
- Soi Indian Restaurant (Melton Mowbray)
- Avatar Dining (Market Harborough)
- Amrut Leicester
- Chutney Ivy
“These awards are always a real highlight for us. We’re really pleased to be here and to be recognised once more,” said Prem Alemagar of Heritage India. “We’re looking forward to the finals in September!”
Picture credit: Pukaar News
In the Best New Restaurant category, innovation and fresh flavours were front and centre. Announced by Bob Gill, Head of Branch at John Lewis Leicester, the finalists include:
- Amrut Leicester
- The Cue Club
- Tulsi Sweetmart and Restaurant
- Regent Grill Asilo, Hinckley
- Avatar Dining, Lutterworth
- Chef’s Flavour, Glenfield
Saving the most prestigious category for last, Vijay Sharma from the University of Leicester announced the finalists for Restaurant of the Year — celebrating overall excellence in food, service, and atmosphere:
- Spice of India
- Chutney Ivy
- Avatar Dining (Market Harborough)
- Sharmilee
- Chef’s Flavour (Glenfield)
- Indian Fusion – Markfield
“These awards aren’t just a proud moment for us — they’re a real celebration for our customers too. They absolutely love it!” said Mohbub Uddin of Indian Fusion. “We’re based in a small village in Leicestershire, and in many ways, we’ve helped put Markfield on the map. It’s great for business and always creates a real buzz!”
With just weeks to go until the grand finale in September, the heat is well and truly on. Leicestershire’s love affair with curry continues, and the 2025 Curry Awards promise to be the most deliciously competitive yet.
Stay tuned for the big night — where spice meets spotlight.
For photos from the night, visit: https://leicestercurryawards.com/finalists-2025-gallery/
