Here we are again. I can’t believe 12 months have passed since we were last together in the magnificent surroundings of The Great Room at the Grosvenor House Hotel celebrating all that is best in our wonderful industry.

 

And what a year it has been! The credit crunch has swept across the Atlantic, hitting these shores like an economic tsunami. Its devastating impact has already claimed several high profile victims, and more will almost certainly follow. It could be some considerable time before we know the final toll, but few of us will escape completely unscathed as the after-shocks continue to undermine the confidence of businesses and customers alike.
 

But, serious though the credit crunch undoubtedly is, it’s not the biggest threat currently facing the UK curry industry. That mantle belongs to the Government’s new points-based immigration system which comes into force this month. For an industry already under huge strain from staff shortages, this could represent a killer blow for many restaurateurs who will find it harder still to recruit the skilled staff they need to keep their kitchens operating efficiently and effectively.

 

Already the industry is showing the first signs of shrinkage after four decades of growth. Unless politicians have the courage to express openly what they say to me privately – that there is good reason for curry restaurants to be treated as a special case – this will only accelerate.
 

That said, I have been encouraged recently by several cases of younger generation Asians turning their backs on other professional careers in order to run restaurants. That’s good news indeed, especially if they can persuade more of their peers to join them in the kitchens or at front of house. If we’re not going to get help from the politicians, convincing more of our younger people that the hospitality business still has a future is an absolute necessity.
 

That’s why evenings like this are important. It proves that, despite all the problems, our resolute restaurant
owners and their amazing staffs are continuing to provide the people of Britain with food and service of the highest quality. Tonight we pay tribute not only to those establishments voted as the best in their region, but also to the thousands of others who received public nominations. The fact that a record 26,000 people sent in nominations speaks volumes for the excellent job being done by curry restaurants up and down the country.
 

I hope you’ll agree that the British Curry Awards provides a suitably grand stage for us to celebrate what we have achieved. This is the fourth year of the awards, and it continues to get bigger and better each year. For that I am grateful to a large number of people – Barclays Commercial and all our other sponsors, Spice Business Magazine, our judges, the fantastic organising team, my own team at Le Raj in Epsom and my family who have to get used to not seeing much of me in the months leading up to awards night.

 

Most of all, though, I would like to thank all of you for coming along tonight to share this wonderful occasion. Whether or not you walk away with a trophy, you are all champions in my eyes. Have a joyous evening.

Enam Ali, FIH, FRSA
Founder, British Curry Awards