One East Lancashire curry establishment has made the shortlist for the prestigious Asian Curry Awards 2022.

Kashmir in Rawtenstall, which opened in January this year, is in the Best Newcomer category, hoping to win the award.

Those on the list are now subject to a public online vote. If they are lucky enough to secure a sufficient number of votes they will then be visited by judges who will decide which curries are the best of the best.

The winners will then be revealed and honoured at a ceremony hosted by the Asian Catering Federation (ACF) at London’s Grosvenor House on November 20.

The event is being sponsored by Just Eat.

Not only will the winners have glory and bragging rights, but they will also be included the ACF’s new 100 Top Curry Restaurants guide which is currently being published online, with a paper copy expected next year.

The ACF represents 30,000 Asian restaurants and takeaways in the UK and the Asian Curry Awards are an opportunity for cuisines from all across Asia to be celebrated.

It is widely regarded as the sector’s most prestigious award.

It includes establishments which serve dishes from Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, The Philippines, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Middle East, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam.

With restaurateurs facing a ‘quadruple whammy’ of rising food prices, increased energy costs, staff shortages and customers experiencing a cost-of-living crisis, Yawar Khan, Chairman of the Asian Catering Federation (ACF), urged the public to cast their votes, as a prestigious accolade can have a significant boost to an establishment’s bottom line.

Yawar Khan said: “Every week I hear from another owner closing their restaurant because they cannot see an end in sight to the economic situation – but an award win can bring a massive upsurge in trade.

“For customers wanting to help their favourite restaurants survive, their votes can be crucial.”

Spice lovers and fans of Kashmir can vote for their favourite Asian restaurants and takeaways via www.asiancurryawards.com.