YOU don’t need to look far if you’re looking for a tasty curry.

If you’re looking for a tasty tikka or a creamy korma, your best bet is to head over to an Indian restaurant in Minehead, which is celebrating after its head chef was voted one of the best curry chefs in the UK.

Jubar Ahmed, head chef at the Alcombe Tandoori in Alcombe, Minehead was one of 24 chefs to receive official recognition for his contribution to an industry worth more than £4.2billion a year.

The accolade was handed out at the 2016 Curry Life Awards at the Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel in London last month.

Jubar said: “To win this title is the greatest vote of confidence I could wish for, not just for myself but for my team who work so hard to make things happen at the Alcombe Tandoori.

“The award will inspire us to keep improving and I’d also like to thank all our customers for their help in putting us on the map.”

As if that wasn’t enough, the restaurant has also been shortlisted for the Best Spice Restaurant award at the 12th annual British Curry Awards on November 28.

The Alcombe Tandoori faces stiff competition from the Bengal Raj in Crewkerne and Spice Club in Bridgwater.

The UK may have a soft spot for old favourites like bangers and mash and fish and chips but the British appetite for curry remains unrivalled.

The Curry Life Awards and Gala Dinner celebrated the ‘official’ national dish ‘chicken tikka masala’ giving visitors the chance to find out more about an industry serving 2.5 million customers a week.

This year’s awards ceremony recognised the best 24 curry chefs and 11 best curry restaurants in the UK and presented a lifetime achievement award to a restaurateur who has provided dedicated services to the curry industry for 50 years.

Guest of honour at the awards ceremony, Priti Patel MP, secretary of state for international development, said: “ Curry Life Magazine ’s annual awards ceremony is a great opportunity to celebrate the enormous talent that is on display around the country and the success of the great British curry.

“My congratulations to all the deserving winners.”

Curry Life Awards regular sponsor, Lord Karan Bilimoria, founder chairman of Cobra Beer also attended the evening and paid tribute to the chefs who were honoured.

He said: “There is no doubt that curry is the nation’s favourite food and behind the great tastes of curry, are great craftsmen.

“We are all in awe of what the chefs do and I applaud them for producing some of the most exotic food in the world at the cheapest prices.

“Those chefs and restaurants who have been awarded by Curry Life, deserve to be congratulated for their hard work and achievements.”

Syed Belal Ahmed, editor of Curry Life Magazine , said: “It was a fantastic evening and a great way to recognise and celebrate the skills and talents of our curry industry.

“Events like this illustrate the strength of our love as a nation for curry.

“I would like to congratulate the much deserving winners of this year’s Curry Life Awards.”

Other guests at the event included: Virendra Sharma MP, Paul Scully MP, Wes Streeting MP, Conor Burns MP and the Mayor of Brent, Cllr Parvez Ahmed.

Guests at the Curry Life Awards were treated to some spectacular entertainment in a glittering awards ceremony, hosted by Celebrity MasterChef finalist, journalist and broadcaster Louise Minchin.