National Curry Week

Categories:: Food & Beverage
Tags:: Food
Where:: United Kingdom
Date change rule:: Week starting with the 1st Monday of October
Holiday emoji:: 🍛

National Curry Week spices up the calendar every year, running from the first Monday of October for seven delicious days. This annual observance celebrates the vibrant Indian restaurant industry, honors the nation’s favorite cuisine, and raises funds for poverty-focused charities. Explore new recipes, dine at your local curry house, or host a curry night with friends.

Deals
Platforms
Social
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History
Timeline
Businesses
FAQs
Importance
Celebrate

Expected National Curry Week Deals

While we await official 2027 promotions, history shows that National Curry Week inspires a range of delicious deals. Expect local Indian restaurants and takeaways to offer special menus, discounts, or tasting events. Larger chains like Wagamama, Dishoom, and Patak’s often run promotions, from meal kits to recipe challenges. Supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s typically feature discounts on curry ingredients, ready meals, and sauces. Look out for offers from popular spice brands like MDH and Shan Foods. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as October approaches.

Platform Guide for National Curry Week

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalCurryWeek. Share vibrant photos of your favorite curry dishes, cooking adventures, or restaurant visits.

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalCurryWeek. Film quick recipe tutorials, taste tests, or highlight your local curry house’s specials.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalCurryWeek. Share community events, charity fundraisers, or discuss your go-to curry recipes.

National Curry Week Hero

Peter Grove

Peter Grove was a journalist and passionate advocate for Indian cuisine who founded National Curry Week in 1998. His vision was to celebrate the UK's love for curry, promote the Indian restaurant industry, and raise money for charity. Grove's efforts significantly boosted the profile of curry as a national dish and created a lasting legacy of culinary appreciation and philanthropy.

History of National Curry Week

National Curry Week was founded in October 1998 by the prominent journalist, the late Peter Grove, who had fallen in love with curry as many of us have before. He took the extra step to express his passion for the Indian stew by creating a holiday for it. He used to opportunity to raise funds for charity. The holiday has been celebrated annually since then nationally, because who doesn’t love curry? Indian food has become more prominent in our culture, and this exposure has helped to grow the industry and spread the love for Indian food.

Curry existed in India more than 4,000 years before the Europeans arrived. The basic ingredients used to make the stew were garlic, ginger, and turmeric. Archaeologists from the University of Washington at Vancouver were able to discover these spices in skeletons and pottery shards from excavations in India. They used a method called starch grain analysis to examine the human teeth and residue from cooking pots, where signs of turmeric and ginger were evident.

The British termed all sauce-based dishes ‘curry’ in the 17th century; it was introduced to English cuisine from Anglo-Indian cooking. They began to add spicy sauces to plain boiled and cooked meats. In Britain, curry was served in coffee houses from 1809, and by the 1940s and the 1970s, it became very popular. Today, it is a very popular dish enjoyed by many.

National Curry Week timeline

15th century

Mughal Empire Influences Curries

Curries are influenced by the establishment of the Mughal Empire.

19th Century

Curry Goes To The Caribbean

Indian indentured workers in the British sugar industry carry curry to the Caribbean.

1970

Curry Houses Develop

Curry houses start to become popular and millions of curries are eaten every week.

1998

National Curry Week Is Founded

In October 1998, the journalist Peter Grove establishes National Curry Week.

How Businesses Can Celebrate National Curry Week

Local restaurants and takeaways can participate in National Curry Week by offering special tasting menus, limited-time curry dishes, or discounts throughout the week. Businesses can host themed events, such as curry cooking demonstrations or spice workshops, to engage customers. Consider partnering with a local charity to donate a portion of sales from specific curry dishes, aligning with the week’s philanthropic origins.

National Curry Week FAQs

When is National Curry Week?

National Curry Week 2026 runs from Monday, October 5 through Monday, October 12, celebrating the UK’s beloved cuisine and its vibrant restaurant scene.

How popular is curry in the UK?

Curry is incredibly popular in the UK, often considered a national dish, with millions of meals consumed annually. The Indian restaurant industry alone contributes significantly to the economy.

What is the origin of curry?

The concept of ‘curry’ traces its roots back thousands of years to the Indian subcontinent, where various spice blends and stew-like dishes were common. The term itself was popularized by British colonizers.

What are the most popular curries in the UK?

In the UK, popular curries include Chicken Tikka Masala (often cited as a national dish), Korma, Jalfrezi, Bhuna, and Madras, each offering a distinct flavor profile from mild to fiery.

National Curry Week Activities

Eat some curry
Curry is a delicious meal that is loved by many. Celebrate the holiday by enjoying some of your favorite curries.
Learn to make curry
There are many simple curry recipes you can try. Have some fun learning how to make the spicy dish.
Donate some food
Charity is a big part of this holiday. Use the opportunity to do some good by giving food to people who may need it.

5 Interesting Facts About Curry

The British like curry
It is estimated that an average Britain will spend about £30,000 on curry in their lifetime.
Chicken Tikka Masala is popular
The most widely loved curry dish in the United Kingdom right now is Chicken Tikka Masala.
There are different recipes
Each region in India uses different ingredients and cooking methods to prepare curry.
Indian restaurants are popular in London
Greater London has more Indian restaurants than Delhi and Mumbai combined.
The largest curry weighed a ton
Indian Chefs and Culinary Association in Singapore made the largest curry weighing 15.34 tonnes.

Why We Love National Curry Week

It supports charities
The holiday is a big supporter of charities. It reminds people to give to others in their community.
It promotes Indian cuisine
The holiday helps to spread the popularity of the dish. Many people enjoy the dish around the world.
It promotes diversity
People are more open to enjoying a more diverse cuisine. People around the world eat food from different cultures.