Awards joy for region's curry houses.

CURRY champions for Newcastle and the North East have been revealed at a national awards ceremony.

Experts at the annual Curry Awards have awarded the Best in Newcastle title to Quayside favourite Simla.

Opened in 1981, decades before the first Curry Awards were handed out, Simla is still going strong after 45 years.

The popular Side restaurant saw of f competition from fellow Newcastle venue Sanskrit, with the Benton Park Road establishment Recognised for Excellence.

Pinaki in Byker secured an Outstanding accolade.

The 15th Annual English Curry Awards, held in Wolverhampton, celebrated the very best of England's curry industry as restaurants, chefs, takeaways and hospitality professionals from across the country were recognised for their achievements.

Congratulations also go to the team at Dhamaka, in Cramlington, which triumphed in the Best Restaurant in the North East category, with Spice Garden in South Shields recognised for Excellence and Lal Khazana in Alnwick getting an Outstanding Award.

It's little surprise that Dhamaka took the title as, while it hasn't been open as long as many of its North East counterparts, it earned rave reviews as soon as started to welcome customers four years ago.

It currently has an impressive rating of 4.7/5 on Trip Advisor.