Monpura never fails to serve up double award-winning curries

And after scooping last year’s Best for Curry award in Warrington just nine months after opening, the restaurant continued to be the go to destination for people wanting authentic curries.

Twelve months later, and Monpura has just been named Warrington’s Best for Curry 2023.

Each week, we will be searching for the best Warrington has to offer in different categories and we’ve given out 21 awards for 2023.

The winners so far:

Best for Hair – Ashleigh Hair and Beauty

Best for Pies – Tomlins Bakery

Best for Nails – Bamboo Hair & Beauty

Best for Roast Dinner – Heaths Kitchen

Best for Cocktails – Dead Eyes

Best for Breakfast -Café Blu

Best for Fitness – Daniel Warburton

Best for Fish and Chips – Fish Net

Best for Tattoos – Danny’s Tattoo

Best for Pizza - Donatello

Best for Pets – Victoria Park Vets

Best Independent Shop or Business – The Phone Whisperer

Best for Dessert – White Lace Bakery

Best for Beauty – Bella You

Best for Kids – TinyTalk Warrington, Newton and Lymm

Best Gym – Ryfields Gym

Best Beer Garden – The Ferry Tavern

Best for Afternoon Tea – The Grand

Best for Burgers – Café at the End of the Universe

Best Café or Coffee Shop – CJ’s Coffee Shop and Tearoom

Voting for Warrington’s Best Pub or Bar is currently taking place and we’re also looking for nominations in our latest search - Best Restaurant.

Next on the menu was the search for Warrington’s Best for Curry and Monpura took the latest Best of 2023 crown making them back-to-back winners.

Monpura is on Walton Road in Stockton Heath

Naz Miah is the manager of Monpura, a Bangladeshi restaurant and takeaway on Walton Road in Stockton Heath with owner Shuhag Islam taking on the role of executive chef.

The venue opened in November 2021 and quickly made a great first impression with customers.

A feast of flavours at Monpura

Having worked at a restaurant in Todmorden, Naz knew he wanted to be part of a family-run business and joined forces with brother-in-law Shuhag, who is the former head chef at The Cottage on Church Street in the town centre.

Naz said: “Shuhag’s cooking is delectable and being of Bangladeshi heritage, he wanted to showcase the Bangladeshi tastes and fusion of flavours.

“Monpura’s food is Bangladesh meets Indian dishes and flavours.

“We always like to explain to our customers that we pride ourselves on the true flavours of a good curry and want them to appreciate it.

“The name Monpura stems from the Bangladeshi meaning ‘to have the mind fulfilled’ and we want customers to feel content after indulging in one of our curries!”

Masala fish biraan

Naz and Shuhag opened Monpura two weeks before Christmas in 2021 after spotting a ‘to let’ sign on the former Little Box of Treats building on Walton Road.

After waiting seven months for planning permission, they spent nearly £97,000 on renovating the building after it was damp and had a leak in the roof.

Monpura doesn’t have an alcohol licence as Shuhag wanted to concentrate on the food he serves “without the disturbance of alcohol on the palate” but customers are welcome to bring their own beer and wine to drink with their meals.

Naz said: “I'd like to think we are a humble small local business providing a valuable service.

“In fact, we extend our principles to charitable donations and when we first opened, we gave a water well where it was most needed in the world.

“More recently, I took the time out to travel to Bangladesh and gave charity donations, supporting areas facing poverty on behalf of my mother who recently passed away.

“Despite the changing dynamics of the curry industry and also with not selling alcohol, we have faced our difficulties in getting people through the door, but we remain positive and slowly but surely we are going from strength to strength.

“Customers are enjoying our dishes and really taking on board our faith and belief in a good authentic curry.”

The talented team of chefs at Monpura

So what do customers think about Monpura? Why did they want the restaurant to win the award again this year?

One happy customer said: “Not your normal Indian cuisine – this is top drawer.

“The staff are very knowledgeable who can recommend special curries that you won’t find on other menus.”

Menu favourites are Khubsurath, Mejbani and East Bengal as well as Panthumai, Ratargul and Tithu Mir Special.

Naz said: “Shuhag is a talented man who loves to make curries with fresh ingredients.

“He will tweak curries depending how the customer likes it.

“He really does love his culinary art and concocting a top notch curry.

“Tithu Mir was inspired by a Bangladeshi patron and warrior who fought for the independence of Bangladesh back in the days of the British Raj.

“Some customers like a good sweet and sour Chinese curry with chips so we have the Bangladeshi twist known as Tok Jaal Mishti, which is sour, hot and sweet.

“There really is something for everyone.”

Chicken Ratagul

Having won last year’s Best for Curry award in Warrington, everyone at Monpura was thrilled to be nominated again especially with the fierce competition from so many curry houses.

Naz said: “There are so many established curry restaurants and takeaways in Warrington so to come top last year, within a few months of opening, was such a joyous occasion and we were all so proud.

“Hearing we were shortlisted again this year, we were delighted.

“It was such a thrill to think people still love what we do here at Monpura.

“To win it back-to-back is just amazing – we are humbled yet so pleased.

“We want to thank all our regular customers and our new customers for all their support.

“Without them we would not be in this position.”

For more details go to facebook.com/monpurauk

Salmon biran