South Central Chef of the Year

In the summer of 2026 Spice Merchants was named one of fifteen regional finalists in the ARTA National Chef of the Year Cook-Off, chosen to represent the South Central region. ARTA, the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards, is now in its seventh year and is often called the Oscars of the curry industry. More than 1,200 restaurants and takeaways were nominated across the country, judged on food quality, service, value for money and hygiene, alongside Google and Tripadvisor reviews.

The cook-off took place on 7 September at Cambridge Regional College, with ChefOnline as strategic partner. Each chef chose from a larder of king prawns, rack of lamb, chicken and sea bream, with seasonal vegetables, pulses, herbs and spices, and cooked against the clock for a panel of Graham Taylor, Chad Rahman, Lauren Gregg and Mujibur Rahman. Dishes were marked on hygiene, technique, use of ingredients, creativity, presentation, flavour, appearance, texture and aroma.

On Monday 12 October, at the ARTA Grand Finale and Gala Evening at the London Hilton on Park Lane, Spice Merchants was announced South Central Chef of the Year. It is a proud moment for a small family restaurant on Osborne Road, and we would like to thank everyone in Southsea who has eaten with us over the last 25 years. The same team, the same kitchen, the same care, now with a trophy on the shelf.