Awards lift the pandemic gloom
BUT RESTAURANTS FEARFUL OF IMPACT OF FURTHER RESTRICTIONS
THE triumph of major wins in prestigious national awards has been overshadowed for two of Nottingham’s Indian restaurants.
Memsaab in the city centre and Lime Indian Restaurant in Nuthall were victorious at the black-tie Asian Food and Restaurant Awards in London.
However, the accolades come at a time when hospitality is once again facing major challenges with cancellations at what should be a busy time of year and reeling from the uncertainty of whether new Covid restrictions will be enforced.
Memsaab, in Maid Marian Way, took the crown for Best Dining of the Year in the Midlands.
Amita Sawhney, who runs the restaurant with her husband Deepak, and Sanjeev Sachdeva, said: “It is hugely overwhelming to have received this award despite all the current stresses, challenges and uncertainties in the world generally, but in hospitality in particular.
“It’s so nice for our team to be recognised for their hard efforts. It’s a team award for sure.
“At present, hospitality is in a lockdown by stealth and its looks increasingly likely to be locked down de facto. It’s so difficult to plan - we have staff to retain and fresh supplies coming in all the time.
“Now, we have the excess and wastage resulting from not knowing where we stand and what the following days will hold. We just have to ride this time out and come out the
other end, whenever that will be.”
Lime Indian Restaurant, in Upminster Drive, scooped trophies for Best Chef in the UK and Best Indian Restaurant in Nottingham.
Sohail Rana, who runs the restaurant, said: “It’s been an incredibly challenging year with Covid and all the uncertainty and challenges that has bought for the industry.
“This award means a lot as it endorses and celebrates the hard work and commitment from the team at Lime.
“We have had to battle with a large amount of cancellations this year and much of this at short notice where we have had extra staffing on for busy evenings which is a big cost to the business which later end up with lots of cancelled bookings.
“We understand it is difficult to control the spread of the virus.
“We are lucky that our customers have been very supportive and where customers haven’t managed to get in they’ve been ordering takeout and deliveries instead.
“Despite all the challenges we have had a successful year considering. The Asian Food and Restaurant Awards are a key event in the restaurant industry calendar and we are so proud to have scooped this during these tough times.”