Aruvi in ​​Spennymoor was shortlisted for the Asian Curry Awards

The Aruvi Restaurant in Spennymoor may be just a new name on the County Durham dining scene, but it has quickly grown its name and reputation.

After opening at Half Moon Lane in Spennymoor in 2022, it has now been shortlisted in this year’s Asian Curry Awards, dubbed the ‘Curry Oscars’ due to its prominence in the industry.

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The Asian Curry Awards cover the full spectrum of Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine, including Bangladeshi, Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Middle Eastern, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese cuisine.

Aruvi, which offers a range of Indian dishes, impressed the judges with its extensive mix of quality food and beverages, which made it stand out in the region.

Now that the restaurant has been shortlisted, it has made it into the top 200 in the UK – but will be fighting for the title of best curry house.

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In addition to Aruvi, Balti Hut in Middlesbrough and Vadah in Stockton made it into the top 200, but Spice Lounge in Durham and My Delhi in Sunderland and Newcastle are also there.

The nominees will now face a public vote before the list is whittled down to 100. These are then evaluated by a jury from the Asian Catering Federation (ACF), which determines the category winners.

The winners will be announced at a gala dinner and awards ceremony at Grosvenor House in London on November 19, hosted by BBC newsreader Samantha Simmonds.

“We are seeing some remarkable innovations from pioneering restaurateurs adapting to challenging trading conditions and more demanding customer preferences,” said ACF Chairman Yawar Khan.

“Afternoon chai, weekend brunch and greater use of high-quality local produce – particularly seafood and game – are now being served on a large scale.”