Long-running business scoops Takeaway of the Year award
The long-running takeaway has been dishing up curries for more than two decades.
“We’ve worked our socks off,” says the manager of a well-known Indian takeaway after the team won a prestigious award.
Village Spice has been turning up the heat in Shiney Row for 24 years and is celebrating winning Takeaway of the Year at the NEBA, North East Bangladeshi Awards, which took place at The Fed in Gateshead this week.
The awards were established in 2022 to recognize the exceptional achievements and contributions of British Bangladeshi individuals, communities, and businesses and Village Spice manager Hassan Ahmed said the team is delighted by the recognition.
“We’ve won awards in the early days, but this is our first in a decade. As a family-run business, it means so much,” said Hassan. “We’ve worked our socks off to get the takeaway to where it is now after facing so many challenges.
“It’s a difficult time for hospitality, with everything becoming so expensive, but we are trying our best to give the best quality food to our local people!”
He added: “Our reviews on our online platforms says a lot about us, as we have been the top takeaway on JustEat and Uber around Houghton. I’m just so thrilled that finally we got recognition for it.
“Thanks to all our new and old customers for coming in week in week out, and most importantly to our kitchen staff, front of house and delivery drivers who are the ones that made it happen.”
Other Sunderland winners on the night include Mumbai Silk, which won North East Restaurant of the Year.
NEBA is not solely a business awards night.
The ceremony also recognises a myriad of community achievements such as Bangladeshi Person of the Year, the Bangladeshi Women in Leadership, Lifetime Achievement Award, the Public and Voluntary Sector Awards and much more, as well as recognising the achievements and contributions of the Bangladeshi Curry industry to the UK economy.
A spokesperson for the awards said: “ We would like to thank everyone who attended our NEBA 2026 and we would like to congratulate all finalists and winners.
“Your contributions, achievements and continued support play an important role in celebrating and strengthening the Bangladeshi community across the North East.”