AN INDIAN restaurant in Shipley is celebrating being named the best of its kind in England.

Shimla Spice won the national title in the Best Indian Establishment category at the Food Awards England competition.

The restaurant won the title after scooping the Best in the North accolade earlier in the evening at an awards ceremony in Manchester last night.

The win comes ahead of the Shipley restaurant’s tenth birthday on October 31.

Shimla, which also has a restaurant in Keighley, was nominated for the Best in the North accolade by customers. Judges then picked it as winner in that category and the national one.

Delighted Faisal Hussain, who is Shimla group manager, said: “We feel fantastic.

“We opened Shipley in October 2006 - it will be ten years on October 31. It is like a triple celebration because we have won so many awards in the last ten years.”

He added: “In our category there was the best in the North, the Midlands and in the South.

“We won the North one, which would have been enough for me. But then to go on and win the overall prize - which I didn’t really think we would - is absolutely fantastic.

“For us to come out on top, words cannot really describe it. To win the double award is a massive achievement.

“For us as a restaurant, it is a big achievement, but to also be able to put Bradford on the map is fantastic. It goes hand in hand.

“And for us, as a brand, it is amazing.”

Mr Hussain spoke of Shimla’s expansion from its original base in Keighley. He said: “For a small 64-seater restaurant in Keighley to expand to a 200-seater in Shipley, we have done really well.

“Keighley is our flagship branch where all started. The Shipley one has taken the brand forward. It is bigger and has national recognition.

“We want to keep pushing Bradford in a positive way. It is great for us and Bradford. Someone from further afield who is a huge curry fan will want to come to Bradford to eat, and they will make a weekend of it.”

Manningham-based Dhesi Grill was also nominated in the Best Indian Establishment in the North category.

In the Bakery of the Year category, Shipley-based Just Desserts Yorkshire Ltd lost out to a firm from Walsall.

Shimla was also nominated in the Yorkshire Restaurant of the Year section, which was won by a seafood eaterie in Halifax.