Cheltenham's oldest curry house fully reopens after achieving prestigious award for food excellence

Cheltenham's oldest curry house The Curry Corner is celebrating the full reopening of its restaurant in 2024 after an extended closure — having also landed two AA Rosettes for food excellence.

Once described as 'an institution of Cheltenham' by its civic leaders, the family-run eatery has been a popular part of the local restaurant scene since 1977, renowned for producing flavourful Bangladeshi cuisine under the passionate leadership of head chef and owner Shamsul Krori and his daughter, Monrusha.

Showered with praise by Gordon Ramsay when it featured as a finalist on his show The F Word in 2009 and having its dishes labelled 'the best curry from pole to pole' by actor Michael Palin — one of many celebrity endorsements — the restaurant is no stranger to receiving widespread praise for its food excellence.

Already boasting a string of prestigious accolades, The Curry Corner has now been awarded two AA Rosettes for 2024 — recognition that puts it in the top 10 per cent of all restaurants nationwide.

The award means all the more to the team following the extended closure of its restaurant during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, due to health concerns within the family.

Though open for takeaway during Covid, The Curry Corner is welcoming diners back into its restaurant this winter 2024, with an all-new section of its menu featuring recipes developed during the pandemic.

Innovative new dishes include garlic chilli chicken; a luxury pasanda made with homemade almond cream; and a fiery naga curry, complementing signature Curry Corner favourites including dishes inspired by Shamsul's original 20th-century recipes, like the 1977 chef's signature 16 spice masala; and almond cream tikka makhani.

And in a bold move for 2024, the restaurant has also gone alcohol free — offering a full soft drinks menu including authentic Indian and Bangladeshi recipes like fresh, homemade lassi — with Monrusha citing a focus on healthy living amongst the family and Curry Corner customers during the pandemic, along with a desire to stay true to their culture, of which alcohol is not a part.

Monrusha says that feedback from customers about the move has been 'overwhelmingly positive'.

And she added: 'We invite our customers to join and support us on the next leg of this culinary journey as we move forwards. The Curry Corner is a part of Cheltenham's history, a landmark — and the future is back in the hands of our customers.'

For more information or to book or order takeaway, visit thecurrycorner.com.