Blue Tiffin: phaal under ‘red hot’

A ROYTON restaurant has been shortlisted for a gong at Britain’s curry house “Oscars”.

The Blue Tiffin, Higginshaw Lane, is one of five Indian restaurants in Lancashire and Manchester in the running at the 2011 British Curry Awards.

A total of 2,700 restaurants were entered for the awards from a record 68,000 public nominations. These have been whittled down to a shortlist of 100 from which the nine regional winners and the Newcomer of the Year will be announced.

The ceremony will be hosted by TV chef James Martin in London on Monday, November 28.

The Blue Tiffin opened seven years ago. Manager Jack Choudhury has worked in the restaurant businesses since the age of 15.

He said: “I am over the moon, very excited. I can’t wait to go down to the event. We have put a lot of hard work into it, all the staff and all my customers who voted for me.”

Organiser Enam Ali said: “This is the seventh year of the British Curry Awards and the standards get higher every year. To reach the shortlist is a tremendous achievement.

“Interest in the competition has been greater than ever this year. It just goes to show the tremendous support there is out there for Britain’s favourite food.”