The anticipation is building as the shortlisted restaurants and takeaways have been unveiled for the Annual Restaurant and Takeaway Awards (ARTA), the most prestigious celebration of Pan Asian cuisine in the UK. This year, the event will occur on Sunday, October 6th, at London’s Royal Lancaster. 

Hosted by Samantha Simmonds, BBC Journalist and Broadcaster, and Paul Martin, Magician and member of the world-famous Magic Circle, the coveted awards recognise the UK’s best Asian cuisine across a series of prestigious regional and national categories.

ARTA rewards excellence, craft, creativity and excellent taste by bringing the UK’s most prestigious Asian restaurants and chefs together under one roof.

Nominees were chosen based on nominations by customers from across the UK, including over 900,000 customers of ARTA’s strategic partner ChefOnline, social media and Food Hygiene Ratings, followed by a final judgement of an esteemed judging panel to crown each region’s Asian excellence. 

The process concludes at the Grand Finale and Gala Evening, where the ultimate winners will be announced and honoured with prestigious awards in various categories.

From the National Champion of the Champions, Regional Restaurant of the Year and National and Regional Chefs of the Year to National and Regional Takeaway of the Year and National Newcomer of The Year, ARTA will spotlight over 1,250 restaurants and takeaways across the UK, ensuring that every corner of the country is represented.

The UK’s curry industry contributes to a fifth of the country’s restaurants dating back to the 1800s. ARTA awards celebrate and recognise Britain’s vibrant Asian restaurants and takeaways and offer solidarity and morale for the industry currently facing high energy costs, inflation, skilled staff shortages, and rising raw material prices.

Mohammed Munim, Founding Member and CEO of ARTA, said: “Asian restaurants and takeaways have made a significant contribution to the UK economy, historically and in recent times. They deserve recognition and rewards for their efforts. These restaurants & takeaways have created thousands of jobs and boosted local economies through their presence, especially post-Brexit. 

To provide staunch support to the thriving Asian restaurants in Britain, ARTA acknowledges and highlights their importance in the culinary landscape. Each nominee is a worthy winner, and we look forward to celebrating with them all at the award ceremony on 6th October.”

ARTA 2024 is Powered by Work Permit Cloud, with ChefOnline as the Strategic Partner, Guavapay, Super Pollo, and Cobra Beer as Associate Sponsors, Madhus as the Catering Partner, and Wheels to Heal as the Charity Partner. ARTA 2024 is also proudly supported by Cambridge Regional College, Khorshid Rice, Squire Mile Insurance, and Lexpert Solicitors.

More information about ARTA can be found here.