Ayr India Seafront wins top restaurant award as boss unveils expansion ambitions

-Credit: (Image: Alasdair MacLeod/Ayrshire Post)
-Credit: (Image: Alasdair MacLeod/Ayrshire Post)


A popular community restaurant in Ayr has been named the best Indian restaurant in the West of Scotland.

Ayr India Seafront scooped the award at the 2024 Spice Awards which took place at the Hilton DoubleTree in Glasgow on Monday, September 9.

The restaurant beat stiff competition from establishments in a category which saw three highly commended runners-up.

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A family-run business which helps in their community, Ayr India was established in 1992 and is run by Narinder and Balbir Sangha, alongside son Gagandeep.

Speaking to Ayrshire Live, Gagandeep said: “We were nominated in the best of Scotland west category and then won the prize at the Hilton DoubleTree in Glasgow.

“It was a great occasion and there were a lot of restaurants there, big ones, from Glasgow and all over that we were up against.

“We’re very pleased that we won and I want to thank all our customers.

“There has definitely been a lot of hard work that has gone into this. It’s 24/7, I’m self-employed obviously so looking after three restaurants isn’t easy.

“We are a community restaurant and we have always tried to help in our community as well as giving to charitable causes.”

Other restaurants run by the family include the Ayr India restaurant on Alloway Place and The Rupee Room.

Following their success, they are on the lookout to expand should the right opportunity arise.

Gagandeep added: “We are on the lookout to expand, anywhere like Prestwick, Troon, Kilmarnock or North Ayrshire like Largs.”

The Spice Awards are an annual event which was been created to reward Asian and Indian cuisine across Scotland.

Other Ayrshire successes on the night saw the Taj Bar & Kitchen in Prestwick high commended in the same category as Ayr India Seafront while Zain’s Curry House in Dalry was high commended in the Best Family Business category and Tempura in Troon was also highly commended in the Best South Asian Takeaway West category.

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