A COTSWOLD chef has been named one of the best in the country.

Abzar Hussain, head chef at the Raj Mahal in Moreton, was a winner in the best chef category in the 2024 Curry Life Awards at the Grosvenor Marriott Hotel, Mayfair.

The event is dedicated to celebrating the success of British curry houses, which bring over £4 billion into the British economy every year.

Osman Rakib Ahmed, owner of Raj Mahal, said: "What a great achievement it is for us to be recognised this way.

"We have reached a milestone in terms of our vision for the restaurant, and this award is the icing on the cake."

The Raj Mahal, which means King's Palace, is based out of a listed Cotswold building which can be traced to the 17th Century.

Mr Ahmed added: "Abzar has been with the restaurant for several years.

Being true to origin as much as possible is the trademark of many of our dishes."

The awards are hosted every year by the curry cuisine magazine Curry Life.

Over 500 guests attended this years event at Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, including secretary of state for health and social care, Wes Streeting, and founder of Cobra Beer, Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE.

In a speech, Mr Streeting said: "Congratulations to everyone for their success at these awards. 

"The hospitality industry has an enormous contribution to make to our country.

"But there's something more fundamental about what the hospitality industry does, and what curry houses across the country do, which is about bringing people together, making connections and creating communities."

Syed Belal Ahmed, editor of the Curry Life Media Group, said: "A major aim of the awards has always been to highlight the best practice going on across the country so that everyone has the opportunity to learn from the best.

"Over the many years we have been staging the awards, we have seen major improvements in standards and quality being offered to customers."