The owner of a Carlisle curry house says he hopes the restaurant can repeat its success of two years ago to clinch a top prize.

The Viceroy, in Rigg Street, Shaddongate, has been shortlisted in the north west best restaurant category of the British Curry Awards.

The eatery, which will celebrate its 24th birthday at the end of the year, claimed the top gong in 2013, beating rivals from across Cumbria, Manchester and Merseyside. Last year it came close to retaining the title, being named in second place.


Sukur Ali “We’ve got a good chance of winning, I think,” owner Sukur Ali said.

“We won it in 2013 and we can do it again. Last year we were named in the top 20 curry restaurants by The Daily Telegraph and this year we were named in the top 10 by The Guardian.”

Asked what makes The Viceroy stand out for its competitors, Mr Ali’s son, Alamgir, said it is a combination of good food and good customer service. 

“When you come in, first of all you want excellent food,” he said. “But you also want top customer service which is something we offer to our customers all of the time.”

The restaurant will learn its fate later this month, when the awards are held at Battersea Evolution in London on November 30.