SOUTHAMPTON curry magnate Kuti Miah is celebrating after his Southampton restaurant scooped two major awards and a recommendation in a top food guide.

The Oxford Street restaurant was named in the top 100 best Asian restaurants in the UK in the Best in Britain Awards, in association with the Real Curry Restaurant Guide.

At the same time the popular city restaurant won a national curry award after being voted the favourite restaurant of Lloyds TSB staff.

Respected restaurant guide Hardens set the seal on a trio of triumphs by saying Kuti's Brasserie "deserved its reputation as a fine Indian restaurant".

Kuti said: "I'm really delighted to win them, it gives me enjoyment. I have been here 26 years and I am serving my third generation now and it's a fantastic feeling.

"The kids I was serving in the 1980s are now in their 30s and they come here with their children.

"These awards are not only a reward for the hard work but they're an indication of how appreciated we are in the community."

The honours come as the family firm is going through an unprecedented phase of expansion.

They have just rebranded the Fair Oak outpost of the curry empire Kuti's Noorani and have plans to open another branch in Wickham in November.

The family, which also owns restaurant Kohinoor and takeaway Rani-Maa in Portswood, also plans to convert the listed gatehouse of the Royal Pier into a Thai restaurant.