Northampton restaurant owner receives special award for ‘Outstanding Service in the Local Community’

A Northampton restaurant owner has been honoured with a national award for his efforts to “give back” to his local community throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

The owner of Saffron in Castilian Street, Northampton - Naz Islam - handed out thousands of free meals to NHS workers, emergency services staff and teachers during both national lockdowns, despite uncertainty faced by the hospitality industry in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

His efforts have now been rewarded, having received a special award for ‘Outstanding Service in the Local Community’ at the prestigious 2020 British Curry Awards.

Mr Islam said: “It is truly humbling to win a British Curry Award. These are the Oscars of the curry industry so to be recognised in this way is a huge honour.

“At the very start of the pandemic I pledged to do all I could to help the town I love fight this virus. I wanted to unite the community and bring everyone together to show the world how Northampton’s resilience and tenacity in a time of crisis can truly make a difference.”

This is the first time a Northampton restaurant has ever emerged victorious in a category at the British Curry Awards, which is now in its 16th year.

Mr Islam continued: “The community spirit in Northampton is amazing and the past nine months has shown me that we have so many incredible people in this town. By visiting the hospitals and the schools to deliver meals we have met the everyday heroes who have sacrificed so much to keep us safe.

“This award is as much for them as it is for me and my team at Saffron, I want to dedicate this to the NHS staff, the emergency services workers and the teachers of Northamptonshire.”

The British Curry Awards was held virtually this year with a global audience able to live stream the event through YouTube.

The awards was hosted by Rory Bremner with awards presented by celebrities including model Caprice, broadcaster Rageh Omar, former newsreader Alistair Stewart, Jess Right from The Only Way Is Essex, Love Island Star Amy Hart and TV chef, Brian Turner.

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson - introducing the awards - said: “We are all experiencing very challenging times in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly for the UK restaurant industry. It is therefore heartening and fitting that the theme for this year’s event is to reward and celebrate all the unsung heroes in the restaurant industry during the pandemic.

“They have selflessly, tirelessly, and, without prompting, gone out of their way to help their local community, the vulnerable, elderly, isolated, and the NHS by supplying much wanted curries, kindness, and support.”

A host of other politicians including Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and former culture secretary, Baroness Nicky Morgan, also handed out prizes at the awards.

Organiser of the British Curry Awards, Enam Ali MBE, said: “The curry industry is well-known for its philanthropy and support of the local community. That spirit of goodwill is personified by Naz Islam in Northampton. He is a shining example of what can be achieved when you put the needs of your community above your own.

“It has been a tough year for all of us in hospitality but the actions of people such as Naz and the team at Saffron must be recognised and applauded.”