RESTAURANT OWNER: AZMAL HUSSAIN ON CURRYSTORIES.CO.UK

Indian restaurant owner speaks about the changes in Brick Lane curry culture and economy. Brick Lane is no longer a 'Bangla street' but resembles trendy mainland European streets.

Azmal Hussain owns several restaurants in Brick Lane, East London. He is also the Secretary of the Brick Lane Restaurant Association.

Initially, he claimed asylum in Sweden before coming to the UK. He learned his craft of cooking in Sweden. He had been an owner of a restuarant since settled in the UK whereas at least 90% of the Indian restaurants in Brick Lane are leaseholders.

For those who are leasing restaurants, introduction of high speed railway, rise in business rate and a new shopping centre near Truman Brewery could put them on the edge of financial ruin. These are uncertain times for many Indian curry houses in Brick Lane.

Azmal admits that Indian restaurant sector needs to be professionalised where cooks should be trained just like European chefs and learn about hygiene and healthy cooking to meet the need of modern consumers. His restaurant uses organic meat and fresh vegetables. He uses British meat too.

When he established his restaurant in the 1990s, Brick Lane was like 'Bangladesh'. The Indian restaurant sector was booming. "It was like a bazaar,' he says. Right now, the area of Brick Lane could be any where in Europe.

Restaurants are undercutting each other to win over customers by reducing the cost of their price.