Curry Mile

For the 2000 novel, see The Curry Mile.

Welcome to the Curry Mile

The restaurants along the 'Curry Mile'

Photograph of the 'Curry Mile' at night-time

The Curry Mile

The Curry Mile is a nickname for the part of Wilmslow Road running through the centre of Rusholme in south Manchester, England. The name is earned from the large number of restaurants, take-aways and kebab houses specialising in the cuisines of South Asia and the Middle East, thought to be the largest concentration of South Asian restaurants outside the Indian subcontinent.^{[citation needed]} Within a length of less than a mile there are least seventy establishments of this kind.^{[citation needed]} The Curry Mile is notable for its streets being busy into the early hours of the morning. The area is much visited by local students, because of its location near the Oxford Road and Fallowfield Campuses of the University of Manchester.

Restaurants

From the 1990s to early twenty first century, the area was dominated by mainly Indian, Iranian and British cuisines. However, due to the mass migration of South Asians into the Rusholme area, only the Indian market flourished. Since 2000, Pakistani and North Indian restaurants remain dominant. However, there has been a noticeable increase in Afghan and Arab cuisine into the area also.

Eid

Considering the cultural niche, in the past there was a surprising lack of Asian diners in Rusholme, the majority being made up of students and white young professionals.^{[citation needed]} However, over the last few years there has been a considerable increase in the number of Asian families visiting the area for meals.^{[citation needed]} Each year, the Eid festival celebrations transform the Curry Mile into a night-time party, although sadly sometimes a small minority of festival goers have caused trouble and spoiled the colourful atmosphere. In recent years, police presence around the mile during this period has been high, and zero-tolerance has become the strategy used for the disruptive youths.

Other features

Also situated along the mile are a variety of Asian fashion, grocery and music shops, and the flavour of Asian cultural influence permeates most enterprises. The traditional and relaxing pastime of smoking Shisha (the Middle-Eastern water pipe) has seen popularity in the area. Shisha holds a long and historic tradition in Arabia popular with royalty and public alike. Shisha is available in many flavours, from the usual apple and strawberry to coffee, chocolate and Coca Cola flavours. It is usually shared by a group of friends accompanied by mint tea or other beverages.

Middle Eastern eateries have had a rising presence along the mile in recent years which has. This is due to a rising demand for Arabic food due to its popularity and to cater for a larger Arab and Kurdish community than in the past.

Rusholme also has several traditional English pubs along the curry mile, which cater to locals and university students including Hardy's Well, The Whitworth, and The Huntsman Inn.

On film

In 1996, Aneel Ahmed and Faisal A. Qureshi wrote Movin As A Massive a Channel 4 Documentary written for the Lloyds Bank Film Challenge.

Movin As A Massive was the winner of the 1996 Race in the Media Award for Best Youth Programme. It was nominated by the RTS in 1996 for Most Innovative Film/Video and was winner of the Channel 4/Lloyds Bank Film Challenge. It was directed by Ninder Billing and produced by Andy Porter and Madeline French for Compulsive Viewing.

A semi-sequel, Wimmy Road, was later written for BBC Radio Drama by Faisal A. Qureshi and directed by Nadia Molinari. It was nominated for a Race in the Media Award for Best Radio Drama.

In books

Zahid Hussain's novel "The Curry Mile" is set in the contemporary Curry Mile and features characters involved in the restaurant trade.

See also

• Whalley Range, Blackburn

External links

• A comprehensive guide to restaurants on the Curry Mile, Rusholme
• Rusholme Curry Website
• YouTube - Channel 4/Lloyds Bank Film Challenge "Movin As A Massive"