Royal Balti House finalist in The Nation's Curry Awards

The Royal Balti House in Farnworth has been selected as a finalist for The Nation’s Curry Award 2023.

The popular restaurant has been going for around 35 years and is considered to be one of the oldest in Bolton.

Staff say they pride themselves on not only serving customers but spending time getting to know their regulars, and manager Atikur Sabur said they are “over the moon” to get the news.

Even though it is not the first time the Indian restaurant has won an award, Atikur says this still came as a surprise.

He said: “I am very grateful and thankful to our customers who voted for us.

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Atikur Sabur

“It’s a very big achievement, especially with how everything is going economically, the industry, and with the competition.

“We are a small family business, so I am more than grateful to be nominated.

“We are over the moon really.”

The Royal Balti House has been shortlisted in the Indian restaurant of the year category and the best team category.

Its most recent award was for the best restaurant in the North West in the English Curry Awards 2022.

• ALSO READ: Farnworth curry house The Royal Balti House serving up the 'Bolti' — a dish with a Lancashire twist

It was also a finalist in the Best Chef category in 2022.

Atikur says that they have so many awards that they have an entire wall dedicated to them in the restaurant.

Atikur added: “Fingers crossed we can bring another award home to Bolton that we can take pride in.

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“We are more than happy that customers took the time out to vote for us.

“It means lot to us.

“This is three generations of families, either parents, children, and their children, and grandparents etc.

“So, it’s all down to our customers.”

Atikur says that the customers are “like family” and “more than customers” to them.

The restaurant will find out if they have won the award at a ceremony, which will be held at the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel in February.

The Royal Balti House has served famous stars for years, with Bolton’s own Paddy McGuiness enjoying a high-quality dining experience.

Celebrity chef and TV presenter Ainsley Hariott was also a guest in 2017 and 2022 at the Bolton Food and Drink Festival.

If you have a story and something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at jasmine.jackson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @JournoJasmine.