A RESTAURANT owner in Cumbria has won a huge industry award, recognising him as one of the best in the country.

The owner of the Maryport Tandoori, known mononymously as Ali, has won the ‘best Indian team award’ at the English Curry Awards 2023, held in Manchester on Monday, February 20.

Ali’s achievements solidified the restaurant as having the best team in England, competing as the only Cumbrian entrant against restaurants in cities renowned for their curries, like Birmingham and Manchester.

Speaking on his success, Ali said: “I was nominated for this award last year but didn’t win it, but this year was a big achievement.

“It’s not just me in the competition, I was competiting against people in London, Milton Keyens, Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, and Birmingham.”

The awards were presented to the winners after a voting process that was open to any member of the public to vote for their favourites, so this award comes after a lot of support from people in Maryport, but also further afield, as Ali explained: “My customers supported me, we have a lot of love and help.

“I serve Maryport, but also the whole county, and we get visitors from all across the UK and the world.

“They all put their reviews up online everywhere, on TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook, and I need to thank for staff, my family, and my friends who have all helped me get here.”

Ali started his business 23 years ago in 1999, he said.

Coming from Workington, he said he was warned against going to Maryport, as he explained: “I wasn’t thinking this would happen because Maryport is a small place, and people warned me not to go there because they said it’s not a good place for business.

“I found a place there, and I took a big gamble, but it’s paid off because now I own the business and the building.”

Thanking everyone, he concluded: "Everyone is so friendly, and without them, I wouldn’t have won this award.”

Maryport Tandoori has also been nominated for the ‘best Indian restaurant award’, the winner of which will be announced later this year.

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