Kings of the balti world were honoured at the first Midlands Curry Awards, with organisers claiming the region is the “curry capital” of the country.

At a black tie event at St Johns Hotel, in Solihull, prizes were dished out in categories such as best restaurant and chef of the year.

Winning the Black Country and Walsall area award was Balti Bazaar, in High Street, Lye, while The Bilash, in Cheapside, Wolverhampton, was named runner-up.

In Staffordshire, the category winner was Garam Masala, in Old Fallow Road, Cannock, with the King’s Repose, New Road, in Featherstone, being crowned runner-up. The British Curry Awards has been a regular fixture but organisers of the Midlands counterpart felt it was time a ceremony was hosted in this region to reflect the fact it boasts the most restaurants than any other part of the country.

Across the UK there are 10,000 Indian restaurants and of these 3,000 are located in the Midlands.

The Express & Star’s John Hackney, who was part of the judging panel for the awards, said: “The standard of entries was incredibly high, particularly in the Black Country which is the home of the curry.

“I am sure that this will be the first of many annual Midlands Curry Awards – it is important to celebrate the standard of food and service which is being produced here.”

Winners were selected by secret shoppers based on criteria such as quality of food, hygiene, external and internal decor, customer service, convenience of location and car parking.

Customers nominated more than 220 Midlands restaurants for the 16 awards which were up for grabs. The awards celebrated top eateries in areas such as Birmingham, Derby, Leicester and Warwickshire.