The eatery took third place in the Best Restaurant category in the Black Country Hotel and Tourism awards. Brother and sister team at Suki's Bharat and Hema Patel are pictured right.
It’s a great achievement for the restaurant as they have only been open for two years, although the venue is built upon the family success in running the well-known The Vine pub in West Bromwich, which has been going for more than 30 years.Owner Bharat Patel, who runs Suki’s with his sister, Hema, said he was blown away to be chosen as one of the top three restaurants in the region.
“We’re still pretty new to the industry, having opened less than two years ago, so we were just delighted to reach the last three,” he said.
“Hema and I, and everyone who works at the restaurant have put in a fantastic effort since before our doors even opened, and this is really testament to all that hard work.
“Most restaurants are around for years before they are able to build up a reputation and style good enough to stand them in stead to win such awards, so we are just thrilled that we have managed it with such a young business.
“But we certainly won’t stop at this – next year we want to win, and this will just encourage us to build on what we have already achieved, and as always, aim to make every visit to Suki’s a fantastic experience.”
Bharat also paid tribute to his father, after whom the restaurant is named. Suki is the renowned proprietor of The Vine pub in West Bromwich, which he has run for more than 30 years.
“Our father has been a great help, and we have learned so much from working with him at The Vine – he is really proud of what we’ve already achieved,” added Bharat.
The restaurant opened its doors in April 2007, after major refurbishment work to transform the former Fallings Heath Tavern into a stylish, contemporary eaterie.
Last year, they ran a competition at their neighbouring primary school, Salisbury School, to design and put together a children’s menu, which involved working closely with the pupils, and included visits to the restaurant and a look behind the scenes.
The awards ceremony at the Copthorne hotel in Dudley was hosted by Heart FM's Breakfast Show presenters Ed James and Rachel New.
Nearly 200 guests attended the ceremony and gala dinner to celebrate the best people, places, products and services from the region's hotel and tourism industry.
The Black Country Hotel and Tourism Awards were launched four years ago by Black Country Tourism to help celebrate the diversity and quality of the tourism product in the region and to help raise standards at a local level.
Comments