Curry Capital joins forces with the Yorkshire Fire Service
The Bradford District has rounded off its bid to be crowned Curry Capital of Britain by joining forces with the West Yorkshire Fire Service to launch an important fire-safety initiative.
Visit Bradford, together with the West Yorkshire Fire Service, has posted off this year’s official entry into the competition with the hope of winning the prestigious title of Curry Capital of Britain for the sixth year running, while highlighting a fire-safety campaign, which is being targeted at restaurants across the region.
Tricia Tillotson, Tourism Manager at Visit Bradford, said: “The competition this year has been tougher than ever, but we have created a unique bid that is a celebration of curry across the district that we hope will be enough to retain our crown. We are delighted that Balvinder and the team at the West Yorkshire Fire Service have launched their safety initiative as part of Bradford’s Curry Capital Bid.”
The fire service and the Asian Fire Service Association (AFSA) have engaged with Akbar’s, Aakash, Kipplings and Shimla Spice; the four restaurants representing Visit Bradford in this year’s Curry Capital of Britain competition. The purpose of the initiative is to engage restaurateurs in the Asian community across the Bradford District and beyond to share important fire safety messages while giving one-to-one advice on how to ensure fire-safety is a priority for the business.
Councillor Val Slater, Deputy Leader of Bradford District Metropolitan Council, said: “The Curry Capital of Britain competition creates a real sense of community throughout the Bradford District. The fact that Bradford has been crowned Curry Capital of Britain for five years running is testament to the fantastic food and drink offering in our city. To have the four restaurants from our team this year and the local fire service working together to promote fire safety across the Bradford District just goes to show that the competition really does brings cohesion to communities through curry right across the District.”
It is hoped that by building stronger links with businesses such as the restaurants representing the 2016 Curry Capital bid, the fire service can work to educate businesses and the local community on issues around and the importance of fire safety in the work place.
Balvinder Singh Bains, Service Manager at the West Yorkshire Fire Service, said: “This is just the first step of our new initiative and we’re sure that as the campaign develops there will be lots of positive outcomes to be gained. We’re delighted the four restaurants from this year’s entry into the Curry Capital of Britian competition are joining forces to support our cause. With them leading the way, we’re confident other businesses will learn from their example that robust health and safety systems are integral to having a successful business, and that in working collaboratively together to raise awareness of the importance of fire-safety, together we’re reducing the risk posed to themselves, their staff and their customers”.
Voting for the winner of Curry Capital of Britain 2016 is now open. The initial competition will decide the Curry Capitals of England (minus London), Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The regional winners will then go head-to-head – along with London – to compete for the overall winner’s title of Curry Capital of Britain.
People can vote via www.visitbradord.com/currycapital, email vote@fedrest.com, or in person via the Visitor Information Centre. Voting closes for the Curry Capital of Britain competition on 1 September. The winner of the Curry Capital of England competition will be announced on 13 September, with the overall winner of the Curry Capital of Britain revealed week commencing 10 October.
For more information about Bradford and the surrounding district, visit: http://www.visitbradford.com/
