A top chef and UK restaurant boss dubbed the ‘King of Curry’ has sadly passed away aged 56 as heartbreaking tributes pour in.
Shabir Hussain, who founded successful Indian restaurant chain Akbar’s, died after a courageous battle with cancer.
Social media posts mourning the restaurant owner said he was ‘a great man who left a great legacy’ and was ‘always welcoming’.
The chef’s first restaurant, a small 28-seat dining room, opened in 1995 in Bradford city centre.
But the chain rapidly gained popularity and soon expanded to dozens of branches across the north, Scotland and the Midlands.
Shabir Hussain, who founded huge Indian restaurant chain Akbar’s, died after a courageous battle with cancer
Akbar’s Restaurant Group posted on Facebook: ‘It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Shabir Hussain, founder of Akbars Restaurant Group’
Akbar’s Restaurant Group posted on Facebook: ‘It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Shabir Hussain, founder of Akbars Restaurant Group.
‘All restaurants will now be closed and will reopen on Friday 18th October at 5pm.
‘Please remember Shabir Hussain in your prayers. May Allah grant him the highest rank in Jannah and bring peace and strength to his family during this difficult time.’
Shabir hosted the grand opening of the group’s latest venue in Blackburn in March this year.
Since it was announced he had cancer last year, people across the world had been leading prayers for the icon.
Emotional tributes have poured out on social media following the CEO’s death.
One wrote: ‘Ah no how very sad! I know how proud Shabir was of the incredible empire he had built with Akbars and how unbelievably hard he always worked.
‘Shocked to hear this. Thoughts with his family and my he rest in peace.’
Another added: ‘Shabir was the third scion of Bradford’s Kashmiri restaurant trade to pass away recently.
‘Bradford has lost another great businessman, philanthropist and all round humanitarian who contributed hugely to the city in such a positive way!’
Here Akbar’s in Leeds is pictured. One tribute to the restaurant boss read: ‘Thank you Shabir for all your hard work and dedication. Akbars has been my favorite place to eat since being introduced as a teenager’
A third said: ‘Thank you Shabir for all your hard work and dedication. Akbars has been my favorite place to eat since being introduced as a teenager.
‘I’ve had the pleasure of visiting 4 Akbar’s restaurants across the UK and love every single one. Rest in peace.’
A fourth offered: ‘Sending prayers and condolences to the family and all his work colleagues in their loss.
‘You’ve all lost a great man who left a great legacy. Gone but never forgotten RIP Shamir.’
‘He helped us when we needed it the most, he had the golden touch and inspired an Industry to push forward and grow, helping many restaurants along the way,’ wrote colleagues.
Another customer agreed: ‘Very sad day, what a man always welcoming was one of his very first customers, and he became a great friend R.I.P Shabir Hussain.’