Kuti's Brasserie shortlisted for Asian Curry Awards

-         Charity Fund Raiser announced for National Curry Week

-         Certificate of Excellence Award from Cobra Good Curry Guide

Kuti's Brasserie, the fine dining Indian restaurant which opened in the former gate house of the historic Royal Pier in Southampton this summer, has been shortlisted for a prestigious Asian Curry Awards as 'Best Newcomer' and 'Best South Coast' restaurant.

The winners of these national awards will be revealed at a glittering, star-studded gala dinner at Grosvenor House in London's Mayfair on Sunday 18th November, hosted by BBC News presenter, Babita Sharma. 

Ahead of the awards ceremony, organised by the Asian Catering Federation, which represents the nation's 30,000 Asian restaurants and takeaways, Kuti's Brasserie is will receive a Certificate of Excellence from the Cobra Good Curry Guide.  The Guide's editor Pat Chapman, will present his award at a special VIP dinner at the restaurant on Tuesday 13th November.

Spice lovers will be able to sample the restaurant's award-winning cuisine and raise money for a good cause, when chef Ravi Rao will serve a series a Royal Thalis from Sunday 21st October until Thursday 25th October, during National Curry Week.  With a set price for the Thalis of just £18.95, £5 will be donated for Health Poverty Action charity's Curry for Change campaign.

Now celebrating is twentieth anniversary, National Curry Week, founded by the late Peter Grove,  is sponsored this year by Kingfisher Beer.

The Royal Pier, which is now home to Kuti's Brasserie, was opened by Queen Victoria in 1833.  Styled 'Empress of India' after 1876, Queen Victoria ate curry every day after being introduced to Indian cuisine by her 'Munshi', Abdul Karim, on the Isle of Wight.

Set in an imposing two-story property, Kuti's Brasserie has four dining areas with 110 covers on the ground floor; 60 on the first floor; 30 upstairs in the Chandelier Cocktail Bar; and 60 additional seats on the outdoor rooftop terrace, with views across Southampton Water.

Kuti's Brasserie is on the former site of Royal Thai restaurant, which occupied the venue for 10 years until recently.  Kuti's Brasserie is owned by restaurateur Kuti Miah, who aged 60, still works front of house.  It was formerly located in Southampton's Oxford Street, until it was closed by fire in April. He also owns Kuti's Express, a takeaway on Southampton's Aldermoor Road; Kuti's Noorani in Eastleigh in Hampshire and Kuti's of Wickham, near Portsmouth.

Miah has recruited Ravi Roa, formerly of the Michelin-starred Vineet Bhatia, as his Executive Chef.  Roa expects to introduce an haute Indian cuisine menu, to sit alongside traditional curry house favourites.

“A venue such the Royal Pier's Gate House deserves a first-rate restaurant with a world class chef – and with Ravi, we now have one,” said owner Kuti Miah, adding, “He's a great addition to Southampton's dining scene.

Coinciding with the reopening of the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton, following its recent £7.5m renovation, one of Chef Roa's first initiatives has been to introduce an early evening, express pre-Theatre menu.

Editors' Notes:

Photos and recipes available.  To review please call

Media Contact: George Shaw, Avocado Media              

T: 01892 750851 M: 07860 695555 E: geo@avocadomedia.co.uk

Health Poverty Action is an international development organisation working to strengthen poor and marginalised people in their struggle for health. www.healthpovertyaction.org

Curry for Change is the charity's fundraising campaign that uses people's love of curry to help the lives of rural families in Asia and Africa who suffer from hunger. www.curryforchange.org.uk

National Curry Week is a has been running since 1998 as an excuse to revel in the nation's favourite dish - curry! Celebrated each October, it applauds the diverse culture in the UK whilst generating funds for good causes at home and abroad www.nationalcurryweek.co.uk

Royal Pavilion  Built to provide steamer services to the Isle of Wight and a place for visiting ships to dock. Celebrities such as Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chaplin and Clark Gable all landed at the Royal Pier after crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

In 1847 a horse-drawn tramway was constructed linking to the pier to Southampton's rail terminus. In 1876 horse trams were replaced by light steam locomotives. In 1888 due to the pier was given a new gatehouse.

The pavilion was extended several times and by 1930 could seat up to 1000 people and became the popular Mecca dance venue. The pier was closed in 1979. The gatehouse was reopened as a restaurant in 1986 but in the following year, a fire destroyed many of the pier's structures in 1992 another fire damaged the restaurant and not refurbished until 2008 and opened as Royal Thai when it became home to the Royal Thai. The venue is quickly establishing itself as a popular Southampton destination for restaurant goers, weddings and private events.

Chef Ravi Roa Executive Chef, with 20 years' experience Chef Roa has a dynamic cooking style and accomplished skill set in the realm of modern Indian cooking. Formerly Sous Chef at the Michelin-starred Vinheet Bhatia restaurant in London, Road has an impressive CV which includes a spell at the Movenpick Five Star luxury Hotel in Dubai. He has been tasked with taking with making Kuti's Brasserie the best Indian Restaurant in Southampton.

Queen Victoria Mohammed Abdul Karim, known as "the Munshi" (meaning clerk teacher), was an Indian attendant of Queen Victoria. He attended her during the final fifteen years of her reign, after which she ate curry, usually chicken with lentils, every day. He was one of two servants to the Queen. Victoria appointed Karim as her Indian Secretary, showered him with honours, and obtained a land grant for him in India.  

Opening Hours

Monday: 18.00 to 23.00                                                                                     

Tuesday to Sunday – Lunch: 12.00 to 14.00                                                    

Tuesday to Thursday – Dinner:18.00 to 23.00                                                   

Friday and Saturday - Dinner: 18.00 to 23.30

The Royal Pier, Gate House, Town Quay, Southampton, Hampshire SO14 2AQ

Tel: 02380 339 211      E: info@kutis.co.uk W:   www.kutis.co.uk