By James Vukmirovic

Copyright expressandstar

There were some big winners at the Master Chef Promotions Business Hospitality & Excellence Awards 2025, which were held in Birmingham at the end of August and saw 22 awards given out to winners from across the country.

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, with three finalists named in each category.

Four businesses from the Black Country and Staffordshire were among the winners on the night, with three Indian restaurants which offering different types of experiences and one of the best hotels in the region all acknowledged.

The Island Masala Fusion Restaurant

The first winner on the night was The Island Masala Fusion Restaurant in Stafford, with the Lichfield Road restaurant winning the Restaurant of the Year Staffordshire award.

Maj Miah picked up the award on the night and spoke of the honour of the award and how much it meant to him and the whole team at the restaurant.

He said: “We’ve absolutely honoured and so pleased because Master Chef are such a big promotion and give so much recognition to small businesses across the country, so to be recognised as the best in our area is an absolute honour.

“We work to a very high standard and this award isn’t just for me, it’s for a very strong team of individuals and we have all come together like a little family, from the top of the chain down to the bottom, and we try to spread that to our customers.

“We’re going to keep on working hard and keep striving to keep being the best in the area and keep up our community support as being a big part of the community is something that is part of our make up.”

Kinver Tandoori

The second winner on the night was Kinver Tandoori, with the south Staffordshire restaurant scooping up the Restaurant of the Year Casual Dining award.

Manager Robi Hossain also spoke of the huge honour of winning the award, saying it was very humbling.

He said: “We are so humbled and really pleased to receive something like this as I have been in the industry for a long time, serving Kinver since 1984, and this is the first time we’ve ever won something like this, so it was wonderful to see Kinver on the big screen.

“We do things very basic at the restaurant and provide a simple menu, nothing fancy, but all very authentic and I think that is the difference between us and the other restaurants that we were up against.

“Over the years, independent and family-run restaurants in rural villages are often overlooked, so I’m truly delighted that this time, the recognition has come home, so thank you to everyone who has supported us on this journey.”

Lime Contemporary Indian Cuisine

The restaurants of the region were acknowledged for a third time with Lime Contemporary Indian Cuisine in Sedgley picking up the Restaurant of the Year Black Country award.

Manager Sala Ahmed said the award was a major endorsement of the work the restaurant did in the community and the type of meal experience it provided.

He said: “We give a lot back to the community through supporting and sponsoring sports clubs and charities, but our main thing is the food and we are very passionate about the food, from my father and uncle who opened their first restaurant in 1979 to the next generation of myself and my cousins.

“We’ve been supporting them and making the industry stronger, keeping the authentic curries, but also adding a modern flair and touch, making sure the service is on point and all the dishes are cooked fresh.

“We’re very thrilled and honoured with the award and it just shows that when you work hard and when you’re passionate about what you do, then you can be successful and that can be recognised and while we weren’t ever expecting to win best Black Country restaurant, it really means a lot to get it.”

Mount Hotel

The final award was won by the Mount Hotel in Tettenhall Wood, which won the Hotel of the Year award.