Indian curry restaurants in UK cautious over Brexit promise

LONDON: Britain’s June 23 vote to leave the European Union may have upset millions, but there is cautious optimism that the crisis caused by severe shortage of chefs

LONDON: Britain’s June 23 vote to leave the European Union may have upset millions, but there is cautious optimism that the crisis caused by severe shortage of chefs in the country’s 4 billion-pound curry industry will be eased through recruitment from the Indian subcontinent.

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It was an explicit promise of the Vote Leave camp during the referendum campaign that leaving the EU would rescue the industry crippled by visa rules that make it difficult to hire chefs from India. Industry bodies say every week, two restaurants have been closing due to the crisis.

“We hope there will be a more flexible system to recruit chefs from abroad, but it will take at least two-three years. Also, the minister who introduced the tough restrictions – Theresa May – may be the new prime minister. So let’s wait and see,” celebrity chef Cyrus Todiwala told HT.

Visa restrictions include a higher salary threshold that not many owners can afford to pay.

The chef shortage has been building up over the years, affecting restaurants that offer Indian and other non-EU cuisines such as Chinese.

Given the considerable demand in areas dominated by Indian and Asian communities, there are reports that some Indian restaurants employ illegal immigrants as chefs, inviting visits and severe penalties by immigration officers.

But Mukesh Alora, who last week opened a trendy restaurant called Delhi Live in Romford, has hired chefs with experience in Taj and Ashoka hotels at high salaries. It is no longer easy to find the right chefs to ensure high quality food and the right experience for customers, he said.