If you’re in the UK and you want a bang tidy curry there’s one place you go: Birmingham. Arguably the capital of curry in Britain (plus the birthplace of both the Balti and the Phall) there’s no better place to visit. Birmingham has a plethora of incredible Indian restaurants to choose from. If you’re a celebrity visiting the second city there seems to be only one place worth visiting. That’s Asha’s in the City Centre.
Only on Monday (June 12) was popstar Pink spotted on Newhall Street visiting Asha’s with friends and family. She was in the city for her Summer Carnival tour, where she played Villa Park on Tuesday. At the show, she even shouted to her thousands of fans, “We’re having so much fun. I had the best Indian food of my life last night!”
But she’s not the only celebrity to enjoy a Burmmie curry from Asha’s. Tom Cruise is probably the biggest star to visit. While taking a break from filming Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, he stepped into the Indian and ordered TWO tikkas, washing them down with legendary Birmingham water, of course. Liverpool legend and former Acton Villa manager Steven Gerrard was also spotted at Asha’s, as has Ed Sheeran and The Rolling Stones.
So why is Asha’s such a hotspot for celebrities?
Well, firstly there’s the restaurant itself, which if you ask us should always be a restaurant’s main draw. The MICHELIN Guide describes it as “a stylish, passionately run Indian restaurant with exotic décor,” and highlights its Tandoori Kebabs as a speciality. All the food is beloved by its famous clientele too. Serving dishes that cover the entirety of the Indian subcontinent, Asha’s offers authentic flavours from Chandni Chowk Ka Kheema to Muscat Gosht, Lamb Saffron Biryani to Hare Baingan Ka Bartha.
Another reason might be connected to its owner, Asha Bhosle. As a singer, actress and television personality, she is very much a celebrity in her own right back home in India. So she might know a thing or two about accommodating the celebrity lifestyle.
This leads us to our last point, that Asha’s also features some exclusive dining rooms and booths where you can have private dinners. Privacy is key when you’re a celebrity. The likes of Ed Sheeran, Jaykae, The Rolling Stones, Cliff Richard and Steven Gerrard all took advantage of this. But we should mention that Tom Cruise chose to sit in the middle of the restaurant among us normals when he dined at the Indian restaurant.
Of course, to truly understand what all the fuss is about, you should really head down to Asha’s yourself. It’s about as close to fame as many of us will come. To learn more head here.
Find Asha’s at 12-22 Newhall St, Birmingham B3 3AS.