‘We’ll definitely be celebrating together as a team — they truly deserve it’
An Indian restaurant in Hull has been named the best in the North at a top hospitality awards ceremony. Hundreds of high profile owners of restaurants, bars, takeaways and hotels gathered at a glitzy event in Birmingham to shine a light on the best in the hospitality business.
The Master Chef Promotions Business Hospitality & Excellence Awards 2025 had attracted hundreds of entries from across the UK. All were whittled down in August to a shortlist of categories including regional restaurant of the year, fine dining, casual dining, newcomer and takeaway of the year.
Three finalists were named for each of the 22 categories – and they included Banarasi Indian Street Food & Grill, based in Princes Avenue, Hull, as the sole eatery flying the flag for the Humber region at the 10th anniversary of the annual awards. And the proud owners of Banarasi were delighted to be named Restaurant of the Year in the Northern Region category, beating off competition from Aperitif, in Sunderland, and Zest of India, in Blackpool.
A spokesman for Banarasi thanked the whole team for being the driving force for the win. He said: “Winning the Master Chef Promotions Business Hospitality Award is such a proud moment for Banarasi and for the whole team.
“This recognition feels like a reward for all the hard work, passion, and creativity that goes into what we do every single day. For us, it’s never just been about food, but about creating memorable experiences rooted in authentic indian street food culture, with a modern hospitality touch.
Want to stay up to date with all the latest event news that’s happening in and around Hull? Well look no further. Sign up to our Never Dull in Hull newsletter and get all the latest news on gigs, food and days out sent straight to your inbox.
“We’ll definitely be celebrating together as a team — they truly deserve it. Their commitment and dedication are what brought us this far, and this award belongs as much to them as it does to the restaurant.
“I believe what gave us the edge was staying true to our vision: offering something unique, heartfelt, and authentic in every plate, while combining it with warm, attentive service. That balance of tradition, quality, and hospitality is what our guests connect with.”
The win comes on the back of a number of culinary crowns dished out in the region, with Hull restaurant Brasa, which specialises in Portuguese food, being named the best in the region at The Yorkshire Show, and a number of East Yorkshire producers to be among the best in this year’s Great Taste awards.
Industry veteran Professor Dr Rois Ali, Chairman and CEO of Master Chef Promotions, said: “It was a huge privilege to bring back the Master Chef Promotions Business Hospitality & Excellence Awards 2025 after a few years’ break, and we were delighted to see so many entries from across the country.
“A huge congratulations to the winners who attended and to everyone who entered. Our aim is to provide a platform to celebrate the hospitality industry, and we hope we went some way to doing that by staging this awards programme.”
First launched in 2015, the Master Chef Promotions Awards recognise excellence in hospitality businesses across the country, giving them the opportunity to showcase their talent and dedication to the industry. The awards have returned this year after a brief hiatus thanks to popular demand.