‘Food unites us, it makes us feel good’: World curry festival returns to Bradford
Visitors will be treated to a packed programme of events, from cooking classes and gala dinners to theatre and steam railway restaurants
The World curry festival is returning to Bradford with a two-week programme that puts one of the UK’s best-loved national dishes at centre stage. Running from 15 to 29 September as part of the UK City of Culture 2025 celebrations, the event offers a mix of dining experiences, theatre and talks, all rooted in Bradford’s long-standing reputation as the UK’s curry capital.
“Food is what unites us, because food makes us feel good,” says Zulfi Karim, the founder of the festival.
Launched in 2008, the event has always been about what Karim refers to as “gastro-diplomacy” — the idea that food can bring people together across cultures and generations.
“I use food as a catalyst,” says Karim. “Especially when things get difficult, it’s a way of coming together and having a conversation over food, and it’s not just aligned to a particular community.”
Before starting the festival, Karim didn’t fully appreciate how deeply curry had become embedded in everyday British life.
“I get it within the South Asian community because it’s what we’re used to. But I realised there’s a great love, respect and knowledge for the dish by British people,” he says.
This year’s programme begins with an opening gala at the new Bradford Live venue, featuring the inauguration of the Bradford Curry Hall of Fame. Other highlights include the World Street Food Market at the new Darley Street Market, with cooking demonstrations, classes and DJ sets, and a Steam and Spice dining experience at the nearby Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (KWVR). There will also be theatre, including a performance of the play Balti Kings, set in Birmingham’s South Asian restaurant district and written by Sudha Bhuchar and Shaheen Khan.
For Karim, the festival is about honouring the Bangladeshi pioneers who established the UK’s first curry houses and showcasing the different regional dishes available across the country. Behind the celebrations, however, lies a growing threat. According to the Centre for Economics and Business Research, the industry contributes more than £5bn to the UK economy each year and supports over 100,000 jobs, but it faces increasing pressures, including rising costs, staff shortages and restaurant closures.
“The biggest challenge for the industry is being able to fill the skills needed and chefs for the future,” says Karim. “The new generation doesn’t want to become chefs. That succession of going from one generation to the next is no longer there. Young people are finding new careers, moving into new areas and migrating.”
Here are a few highlights from this year’s festival:
15 September: opening gala dinner
A black-tie launch for the Bradford Curry Hall of Fame at Bradford Live, a restored art deco former theatre, bingo hall and cinema closed for 25 years before reopening in August.
16 September: The Business of Food Conference
The Yorkshire Food, Farming & Health Summit brings together speakers on agriculture, food security and halal and ethical supply chains at Bradford Live.
20-21 September: World Street Food Market
At the new Darley Street Market, visitors can expect live DJ sets, cooking classes, chef demonstrations and a special appearance from Chef Vivek Singh, chief executive and founder of The Cinnamon Club.
24 –26 September: Theatre of Curry
Spanning three evenings, Theatre of Curry combines food and performance with events hosted by TV doctor Amir Khan, a performance of Balti Kings and the new Bradford Curry Heritage Supper Club.
27-28 September: Steam & Spice railway dining
The KWVR will be transformed into a travelling restaurant, offering afternoon teas and evening dining on a heritage steam train.
29 September: gala dinner
The festival closes with a celebration of Bradford’s curry history, in partnership with the Heritage Trust.
