Maybe like me you have never heard of Desi Pubs. I only discovered the term because firstly, I love BBC Radio 4s “The Food Programme”, and secondly, I am researching where I can eat on my next trip to London.

Desi Pubs are a cross between a Pub and an Indian Restaurant – a marriage, as far as I’m concerned, as a marriage made in heaven.

The Programme link below (may not work outside UK) features ‘The Gladstone Arms’ located in Borough in London as well as other Desi Pubs in Smethwick and West Bromich.

The ‘Gladstone Arms’ gets great reviews on TA. Anyone on here eaten there?

What really heartened me was the discussion in the programme about the pubs acting like a ‘melting pot’ and so another great reason to visit them. Some of them came about because of the “colour bar” in many British pubs especially in the Midlands where people were recruited from overseas to help keep British Industry working.

There is a guide you can buy written by David Jesudason “Desi Pubs: A guide to British-Indian Pints, Food and Culture”.

Here is the BBC Programme Link:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002pfdq

Interesting! Thank you. You're right--the link didn't work here in for me in the states, but I can google for a bit of history. England is responsible for my love of Indian cuisine now.

UK probably likes Curry as much as Fish and Chips. I will betray my age and say that I was mid 20s before I tasted my first curry. I couldn't believe what I was tasting. At the time, I was living in York and doing my nurse training. Since then its always been on my menu. I have numerous Curry Cookbooks and British TV features many programmes on how to make the best curry. I guess its as popular in the States. When I was in New York the queues for some Asian restaurants were immense.

If you are anywhere near Birmingham The Hen and Chickens is superb . Birmingham is second only to Bradford in the curry stakes.

in London we are "regulars " at https://threefalcons.com - great food and ideal if you want to visit Abbey Road studios.

Thanks catch23. I have heard that the "Hen and Chickens" is superb and must try - I love Birmingham and have relatives quite closeby, so its one to visit this year. I have been twice to Bradford recently, the latest this month but I don't like the place. Many of the best curry places are outside the City Centre but happy to hear of any recommendations. A recent job saw me in contact with students in Manchester (many Indians and Chinese) so they gave me Manchester recommendations. Not surprising, a lot of the places are in the curry mile in the Rusholme area of Manchester.