An Oxford restaurateur enjoyed the taste of success when he won a top prize at the British Curry Awards for the second time.

The Aziz restaurant, in Cowley Road, owned by Aziz-Ur Rahman, was named the best curry restaurant in the South-East at a ceremony at London's Grosvenor House Hotel, hosted by television and radio presenter Chris Tarrant.

The restaurant joined Dil Raj, in Ock Street, Abingdon, Elaichi, in Millbrook Square, Wantage and Jaflong, in Market Square, Bicester, on a shortlist of 100, chosen from more than 9,500 curry houses across the UK. It has already won an armful of awards, including the South-East accolade in 2005.

Mr Rahman, who opened the restaurant in 1990, said: "I am so pleased we won, pleased for my customers, staff, chef and Oxford. It's a tremendous achievement and will put my restaurant and Oxford on the map.

"I was so nervous but the whole table jumped up and applauded when they announced my name. It was the biggest noise all night. I knew we were in with a chance, because we are a high-class establishment.

"There was a lot of tough competition this year but I think our success is down to being creative and innovative, as well as moving with the times and changing the decor and menus regularly."

The 48-year-old has 28 years' experience in the business and said he was spurred on to win after only reaching the final 30 for the South-East award last year.

He said: "Not winning last year was a huge disappointment for us, so we are very pleased we got the attention of the judges this year. You are only as good as your last meal.

"We will carry on improving our dishes. The chicken tikka massala is very popular but we are also selling a lot of the chefs' specials, like the lamb with pumpkin and chicken razzala."

In its third year, the British Curry Awards represents the biggest event in the curry calendar.

The ceremony was attended by more than 1,000 restaurateurs, MPs and celebrity guests, as well as restaurant critics for our sister papers The Oxford Times and Herald series, Chris Gray and Helen Peacocke.

Conservative Party leader and Witney MP David Cameron recorded a personal video message for the awards ceremony, in which he said: "The tremendous contribution that the British spice industry makes to our country is clear for all to see - the 100,000 people it employs, the billions it contributes to our economy and then there's the sheer enjoyment which the current 10,000 curry restaurants provide."