News
Curry house in Greater Manchester named best in UK at ‘Curry Oscars’
Two Greater Manchester restaurants took home awards at the prestigious ceremony
A Greater Manchester curry house has been awarded the coveted title of ‘Champion of Champions’ at the Asian Restaurant And Takeaway Awards 2023.
The Milnrow Balti Restaurant, based on Dale Street in Milnrow, Rochdale, beat some tough competition to be crowned champion at the prestigious awards ceremony which celebrates Pan Asian cuisine across the UK.
ARTA 2023, dubbed the ‘Curry Oscars’, welcomed a guest list of the nation’s most popular Asian restaurateurs alongside MPs, dignitaries, and celebrities as they collectively honoured the achievements of the industry.
The Milnrow Balti took home another award for Best Regional Restaurant of the Year, which it took home last year also.
In another win for Greater Manchester, the Bradshaw Tandoori in Bolton won Regional Takeaway of the Year North West.
The ceremony, held at Hilton Park Lane, London on October 8th, was hosted by TV presenters, Samantha Simmonds and Paul Martin. Martin also entertained the guests with a magic tricks show.
Interspersing the awards presentation were performances by singer Kavya Limaye and Ujaan Mukherjee – both performed live and delighted the audience with their talent.
ARTA Founder, Mohammed Munim, said: “I would like to congratulate all of the winners and finalists of ARTA 2023 – the Pan Asian restaurants, takeaways, and chefs who are the pride of the UK’s hospitality industry.
“As the first and foremost award ceremony to honour the finest of the UK’s Asian restaurant and takeaway industry, we salute your resilience and fortitude as you continue to serve diners and customers across the UK in particularly challenging circumstances.
“I would like to thank Lords, Ministers, High Commissioners, dignitaries, and guests for joining us on this occasion.”
He continued: “The UK’s popular Asian restaurant industry, synonymous with taking operational and business challenges such as staff shortages and the Covid pandemic head on, now faces a new set of challenges – the current cost of living crisis.
“The cost of supplies, ingredients, and energy have risen significantly while customers are also facing tightened household budgets.
“In this tough situation, ARTA once again honours the UK’s best Asian restaurants and takeaways who continue to deliver the best in the restaurant and home dining in these tough circumstances.
“ARTA recognises this industry, which is the result and displays the successes of multiculturalism in the UK.”
Winners at the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards 2023:
- Champion of Champion: The Milnrow Balti Restaurant, Rochdale
- National Chef of the Year: The Chequers Indian Lounge, Great Blakenham, Ipswich
- National Takeaway of the Year: Kaani Kaana, Chelmsford
- Newcomer of the Year: Coco Buffet, Weston-super-Mare
- Fine Dine Restaurant of the Year: Dining Room, Sheerness, Rochester
- Street Food Restaurant of the Year: My Delhi, Newcastle upon Tyne
- Japanese Restaurant of the Year: Maneki Ramen, Worcester
- Korean Restaurant of the Year: Yori, Piccadilly Circus, London
- Sri Lankan Restaurant of the Year: Colombo Kitchen Restaurant, Worcester Park, Kingston upon Thames
- European Restaurant of the Year: Tamasha, Playa Blanca, Spain
- Regional Restaurant of the Year – Northern Ireland: Nu Delhi Restaurant Lounge, Belfast
- Regional Restaurant of the Year – Wales: Belfoi, Carmarthen, Swansea
- Regional Restaurant of the Year – North West: The Milnrow Balti Restaurant, Rochdale, Oldham
- Regional Restaurant of the Year – West Midlands: Shifnal Balti, Shifnal, Telford
- Regional Restaurant of the Year – East Midlands: Nazreen, Kettering, Northampton
- Regional Restaurant of the Year – Hertfordshire: Cumin Bar & Restaurant, Broxbourne, Enfield
- Regional Restaurant of the Year – Essex: Cinnamon, Epping, Chelmsford
- Regional Restaurant of the Year – Surrey: Tarana, Lingfield, Redhill
- Regional Restaurant of the Year – South Central: Jalpari of Woodley, Woodley, Reading
- Regional Restaurant of the Year – North London: The Rajdoot, Hampstead, London
- Regional Restaurant of the Year – South London: Saka Maka, Hither Green, London
- Regional Restaurant of the Year – West London: Durbar Tandoori Restaurant, Bayswater, London
- Regional Restaurant of the Year – South West: Daaku, Falmouth, Truro
- Regional Restaurant of the Year – Sussex: Tamasha, Lindfield, Redhill
- Regional Restaurant of the Year – North East: Raval Indian Brasserie & Bar, Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne
- Regional Takeaway of the Year – North East: Balti Hut, Linthorpe, Cleveland
- Regional Takeaway of the Year – North West: Bradshaw Tandoori, Bradshaw, Bolton
- Regional Takeaway of the Year – West Midlands: Chutney Express, Castle Bromwich, Birmingham
- Regional Takeaway of the Year – Essex: Kaani Kaana, Chelmsford
- Regional Takeaway of the Year – Surrey: Mohini Balti House, Carshalton, Sutton
- Regional Takeaway of the Year – Kent: Sher-E-Bangla, Longfield, Dartford
- Regional Takeaway of the Year – East Anglia: Eastern Spice Ipswich, Suffolk, Ipswich
- Regional Takeaway of the Year – East Midlands: Miah’s Takeaway, Heanor, Derby
- Regional Takeaway of the Year – Wales: Kalimirch, Barry, Cardiff
- Chef of the Year – Wales: Elaichi, Carmarthen, Swansea
- Chef of the Year – East Anglia: The Chequers Indian Lounge, Great Blakenham, Ipswich
- Chef of the Year – East London: The Empress, Whitechapel, East London
- Chef of the Year – South West: Spice Club, Bridgwater, Taunton
- Chef of the Year – Surrey: Indian Panorama, East Molesey, Kingston upon Thames
- Chef of the Year – Hertfordshire: Ruby, Hertford, Stevenage
News
Oasis announce huge reunion tour as Liam and Noel Gallagher ‘make peace’
The news we’ve all been waiting for!
After years of will-they-won’t-they speculation, Oasis are officially BACK together for a reunion tour.
The Gallagher brothers have put aside their differences in the name of music, making thousands of fans extremely happy in the process.
The band teased the news on their socials over the weekend, posting a video on Sunday morning with today’s date (Tuesday, August 27th) and the time 8am.
And now shows have been announced for multiple dates in the UK and Ireland, with tickets going live this Saturday, August 31st.
The legendary Mancunian rockers will take to the stage next summer, with gigs in Cardiff, London, Edinburgh, Dublin and, of course, Manchester.
15 years after splitting, the band confirmed they would be back for 14 shows, saying: “The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised”.
The gigs will be Oasis’s ‘only shows in Europe next year’, with tickets on sale this Saturday at 8am in Ireland and 9am in the UK.
The Oasis 2025 tour dates in full:
July
4th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
5th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
11th – Manchester, Heaton Park
12th – Manchester, Heaton Park
19th – Manchester, Heaton Park
20th – Manchester, Heaton Park
25th – London, Wembley Stadium
26th – London, Wembley Stadium
August
2nd – London, Wembley Stadium
3rd – London, Wembley Stadium
8th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
9th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
16th – Dublin, Croke Park
17th – Dublin, Croke Park
You can grab your tickets HERE.
News
Stagecoach hiring over 100 new bus drivers for Bee Network with £31k salaries
Fancy a career change?
Stagecoach Manchester is hiring over 100 new bus drivers to work from its Oldham depot, following the second phase of the Bee Network launch in March.
You can apply for a range of roles, from positions with no experience required to fully qualified bus drivers.
Successful applicants will receive full training as part of the job, and trainees will get paid to train. Then after only 12 months’ service at Stagecoach, drivers can expect to earn up to £16 per hour, which equates to £31.6K per year, before overtime.
As well as that, drivers that already hold a PCV licence may be eligible to receive a £1,200 joining bonus.
Stagecoach
There’s also a host of other benefits available to all Stagecoach employees, like 28 days paid holiday, generous pension and free Stagecoach bus travel for successful applicants and a companion.
Rob Jones, Managing Director at Stagecoach Manchester said: “Expanding our offering in Oldham means we’ll be investing more in the economy and supporting our local community, as well as strengthening our workforce.
“Whether you’re looking for a career change or you’re a fully qualified, experienced bus driver, there’s a role for everyone here in Oldham.
“We’re looking for personable and dedicated drivers who are ready to help us build on the success of the Bee Network and connect the people of Oldham and Greater Manchester with the places and people that are important to them.”
Stagecoach
Phil Cornwall, bus driver at Stagecoach Manchester, said: “I’ve been a driver at Stagecoach for 25 years and I couldn’t recommend it more.
“From the perks to the people to the passengers, it really is a great place to work.”
To apply, head to the Stagecoach website HERE.
Two men have now been charged with murder, following the discovery of a human torso in Kersal Dale.
As well as that, more suspected human remains were also discovered this morning, Monday April 29th, in an alleyway close to the railway lines off Worsley Road, Eccles.
This follows earlier discoveries of human remains over the past three weeks, at Kersal Dale, Blackleach Reservoir and Colliery Wood, all in Salford.
Greater Manchester Police
Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski (25/04/1956) and Marcin Majerkiewicz (10/04/1982) both of Worsley Road, Eccles, have been charged with murder.
They are set to appear at Tameside Magistrates Court this afternoon.
While formal identification is still ongoing, the remains found at Kersal Dale are believed to be of a local man in his 60s. The remains found at the other three locations are still to be tested, but police are confident they belong to the same victim.
ACC Sarah Jackson said: “We have had large numbers of officers, staff and specialists working diligently on this investigation over the last three weeks. It has been very much a large, collective effort, with the victim and family at the heart of it from the outset.
“We have specially trained officers deployed to support the family as they come to terms with this tragic news. They are aware of this morning’s further discovery and will continue to be kept up to date with how we are progressing.
“Despite the charges brought today, our work is far from over.
“The scenes we already have established in Bury and Salford will remain in place for much of this week whilst our searches and enquiries continue. Local officers will continue to patrol the impacted areas to provide reassurance.
“We will continue following every line of enquiry to recover and reunite the victim with his family, bringing a dignified end to this terrible scenario.
“I’d like to thank the communities of Salford and beyond for their cooperation throughout this investigation. I know this incident has come as a shock, and the support we’ve had from those in the area is very much appreciated.”
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