A TILEHURST restaurant has scooped a top prize in awards recognising the best curries in the country.

The annual Curry Life Awards awarded the best Indian restaurant in Reading to The Zyka, based in Park Lane.

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The annual awards showcase the very best of the best that the curry industry has to offer, rewarding those who strive towards providing a unique experience, with excellent food, service and ambience.

The curry chefs and restaurateurs from across the country picked up the coveted award in front of an audience of more than 800 people at a gala event hosted by journalist and broadcaster, Cathy Newman and Adam Shaw.

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Zyka owner Mr Zakir Khan, said: “There is a lot of competition around but we get customers from far afield coming to dine here.

“We make sure they enjoy our food and we pride ourselves on consistency with quality food on offer.”

Andrew Kenny, UK managing director of Just Eat, said: “The Curry Life Awards is an incredibly important event, recognising and celebrating the hard-working restaurants all across the country dedicated to serving fantastic food to their customers each and every day.

"We’re thrilled to support Curry Life and the excellent work the whole team does to promote the interests of this vibrant industry, which contributes so much to Britain’s culinary culture.

“A massive congratulation to all of the nominees and winners on your achievements - you truly are the best of the best.”

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Lord Karan Bilimoria, founder of Cobra Beer and vice president of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), added: “I congratulate all the nominees and winners of the curry life awards 2019.

“They are an inspiration to us all and, in particular, to the young members of the curry industry family, who I am sure will be inspired by these awards and will aspire to achieve themselves in the future.”

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Syed Belal Ahmed, who is the Editor of Curry Life Magazine, which organises the Curry Life Awards, added: “We have been championing the British curry cuisine for many years and despite being hit hard by several recessions, it has managed to survive and flourish.

“There are pressing issues that need to be resolved, such as relaxing overseas work permits and a sensible discussion about spiralling business rates, but awards ceremony was about recognition and celebration of much loved British curry.”