A BARNOLDSWICK restaurant has been named as best restaurant of the year at the Curry Life Awards 2023 held in London's West End.

 Habib Ullah, owner of Barlick Raj Balti, in Station Road, said he was thrilled to have won.

He said: “Our heads are still spinning after the win. I feel joy after 12 years of hard work. It shows people like our food and that it’s of a high standard.

"We’re so grateful to everyone who supports us because, without them, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

The awards, which celebrate the best of the best in the UK's multi-billion-pound curry industry, were held on October 15, and attracted an audience of more than 500, including beer magnate Lord Karan Bilimoria, who founded Cobra Beer, and representatives from headline sponsor Just Eat.

Habib works in partnership with his brother, Muhibur Rahman, the restaurant's head chef, who has more than 30 years’ experience.

To develop the business, Habib and his brother travel to India to network and learn from top chefs about ingredients and ways to improve their food.

The Curry Life Awards 2023 celebrated the elite in the UK's multi-billion-pound curry industry and featured 44 awards across five categories.