The Spice is Right! Your YEP Leeds Curry House of the Year winners revealed

YEP editor Nicola Furbisher presents the winner of the Curry House of the Year award to Imran Choudhury at the Grand Indian Lounge on Wakefield Road in Swillington. Picture Tony Johnson

Your winners in the YEP Curry House of the Year have been crowned.

We received thousands of votes but it was the Grand Indian Lounge in Swillington that proved to be top of the spice rankings.

Manager Imran Choudhury said he and the team at the restaurant, on Wakefield Road, were “absolutely overwhelmed” at winning the title and now had their eyes set on another prize – an award at next year’s YEP Oliver Awards.

The team at Tharavadu in Mill Hill, second place winners in the Curry House of the Year award. Picture Tony Johnson

During the competition, 46 restaurants were nominated for the Curry House of the Year title.

Ten were shortlisted, and put to the public vote. Thousands of YEP readers voted for the restaurant that keeps them coming back for more in the highly competitive competition.

But just one could win.

During the voting weeks, Mr Choudhury said he’d noticed that more customers had been travelling from further afield to get a taste of what they have on offer - with some of them now on their “second or third” visit to the restaurant. He said he wanted to thank “each and every customer” who voted for them.

Mohammed Ashfaq at Jinnah Restaurant, third place in the YEP Curry House of the Year competition. Picture Tony Johnson

He said: “We’ve only been in business for two and a half years so to have our customers vote for us is a massive achievement. We’re absolutely overwhelmed.”

Since opening the restaurant has totted up an impressive collection of accolades, including being shortlisted in the British Curry Awards best newcomer category last winter.

The restaurant prides itself on being a member of the community in Swillington and beyond, and has sponsored sports teams in the area and beyond, including in Kippax, Woodlesford, Oulton, Great Preston and Rothwell.

Mr Choudhury said: “The support of the local community is very important to us, and we wouldn’t be successful today without them.”

Second place went to Oliver Awards Indian Restaurant winner for 2016, Tharavadu on Mill Hill, while third place went to Jinnah Restaurant in Seacroft.

Thanking his staff and all everyone who voted, manager Sammy Younis said: “Without our customers we wouldn’t be here. We like them to feel at home with great food, a family atmosphere and entertainment.”