Leicester is celebrating after retaining its title as England’s Curry Capital for another year,
having now held the prestigious accolade for the past two years.
Invited guests at Chutney Ivy restaurant in Leicesters cultural quarter gathered for a photo to celebrate
The official presentation and ceremony was attended by: Deputy Lieutenant Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, The Lord Mayor of Leicester, Councillor Kulwinder Singh Johal ,Shivani Raja MP, Leicester East Dan Harrison, Leader of Leicestershire County Council Jackie Ledger, Place Marketing Manager, Leicester City Council, Tourism, Culture and Investment
Chutney Ivy Indian Cuisine hosted the event & Jackie Ledger from Visit Leicester proudly received the award on behalf of the city.
Leicester beat off strong competition from Manchester, Birmingham, London and Bradford, retaining the title after securing an impressive 73.6% of the public vote, once again proving why it is regarded as one of England’s premier destinations for authentic Curry.
Among those attending the celebration was the reigning Miss England, Grace Richardson, a performing arts student in Leicester who proudly represents her home city at the 75th Miss World Festival in Vietnam later this summer.
Grace, a Performing Arts student at LCPA, said: “Having lived all my life in the multicultural city of Leicester, I’ve grown up surrounded by so many different cultures and amazing cuisines. One of my favourite things about living here is the incredible choice of authentic curry restaurants. It was a real honour to join the celebrations as Leicester retained its title as England’s Curry Capital. This award is a fantastic tribute to the talented chefs, hardworking restaurant owners and the diverse community that make Leicester such a special place.
I’m incredibly proud to have been born and raised here in Leicester and to represent my home city as Miss England soon on the Miss World stage in Vietnam where I’m looking forward to showcasing my performing arts !”
Grace with the book , Romail & Shaf from Chutney Ivy
Event organiser Romail Gulzar, who also launched his new book called “ A Mind on the Edge ” now available on Amazon during the evening, said: “Leicester’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths, and our food brings people from every background together. Retaining the title of England’s Curry Capital is something the whole city can be proud of. I was delighted to combine this celebration with the launch of my new mental health book, highlighting the importance of bringing communities together, supporting one another and encouraging positive conversations around mental wellbeing.”
Grace recently returned from India as part of her Miss England humanitarian journey and believes the city’s rich multicultural heritage is one of its greatest strengths.
Miss England Director Angie Beasley attended the event at Chutney Ivy with Grace
Leicester is home to one of the UK’s finest selections of Indian restaurants, with cuisines from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka all contributing to the city’s vibrant food scene. Retaining the England’s Curry Capital title is another proud milestone for a city renowned for its diversity, culture and world-class cuisine.
Grace marked the occasion by tucking into a delicious curry while proudly wearing her Miss England crown and sash – a fitting celebration as Leicester retained its title as England’s Curry Capital. 🍛👑
Blog by Angie Beasley
