A RESTAURANT boss from the district is hoping to be named Curry King of England for the second year running.

Faisal Hussain won the top award at last year’s English Curry Awards - and he has been nominated again, by his customers, for 2016.

Mr Hussain, 25, is group manager for Shimla Spice, which has restaurants in Keighley and Shipley.

Shimla’s Shipley curry house has also been nominated in the awards - in the categories for Yorkshire Restaurant of the Year and National Restaurant of the Year.

On his nomination for Curry King, Mr Hussain said: “It is fantastic. The effort and the hard work that I am putting in is paying off. Just to even get shortlisted is a big thing.

“It is an honour for myself and the Bradford district.

“I am only 25 and I am doing my best as an individual, and it is great. But to put Bradford on the map on a national scale is an even bigger achievement.”

Mr Hussain said part of Shimla’s success was down to its work in the local community.

“We do hard-hitting community work,” said Mr Hussain. “And a lot with schools as well.

“It is about helping the community in whatever way we can.

“If you are a successful restaurant, people will see that. But if you get involved in the community, you are creating awareness and helping make a difference in the community.”

The awards’ shortlist is determined by customer nominations, before a judging panel selects the winner in each category.

Last year, Shimla picked up a hat-trick of accolades at the awards, including Mr Hussain’s Curry King title.

The company’s Shipley venue won Yorkshire Restaurant of the Year, while a new venture in Burnley took home the New Restaurant of the Year accolade.

The Burnley restaurant has been nominated in the Lancashire category for this year’s awards.

Mr Hussain joined the family-run business at the age of 16, working in roles such as waiter.

Speaking after winning last year’s Curry King award, Mr Hussain, then 24, said: “It is usually given to someone who has been in the trade for 30 to 40 years.

“To achieve it at such a young age is fantastic.

“I am quite shocked to have won Curry King at such a young age.”