Curry houses not under threat

It may make a spicy headline to suggest that Brick Lane’s curry houses are under threat from Tower Hamlets. But nothing could be further from the truth.
Brick Lane is one of the jewels in the crown of the borough’s restaurant trade and the council has worked hard to promote the excellence of local businesses.
During the Olympics in 2012 the council hosted a free festival in Brick Lane to promote the area’s cuisine when it was officially named as Curry Capital 2012.
The council is also planning a major event on March 22 to promote Brick Lane to visitors and boost trade in the area, which will involve celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott.
The council wants its reputation as an exciting and vibrant place to have a meal out to continue.
At the same time like all councils, we operate within the law and in the interests of all residents. The council has a duty to combat anti-social behaviour and restaurant owners in the area support this.
Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman said: “I am 100 per cent committed to the restaurateurs of Brick Lane who have worked hard over the past decades to make it a thriving tourist attraction and hub for the local economy.
“The council has been looking into the ways in which we can provide additional support measures to ensure that Brick Lane remains the Curry Capital that it deserves to be.”
Alongside the police the council insists restaurateurs operate within the legal opening hours which they have got planning permission for, like any other council. There is nothing new about this.
If a restaurant owner wants to extend their opening hours they can apply to do so and their case will be considered by the council.
Over the last five years the council has been visiting restaurants in the area, telling them they must comply with their opening hours and have had to prosecute some operators.