When Shabir Hussain opened the first Akbar’s restaurant on Leeds Road in Bradford in 1996, it seated just 28 people.
Nearly three decades later, that modest restaurant has become one of Britain’s best-known South Asian dining brands, with restaurants stretching from Manchester to Newcastle and into Scotland. But for those who knew him, Shabir’s greatest achievement was never simply building a successful restaurant chain, but it was inspiring a generation of British Asians that ambition and heritage could go hand in hand.
This August, that same street will once again come together to celebrate the man whose vision helped put it on the map.
The Leeds Road Festival returns on 15 August, continuing a tradition that began last year following Shabir Hussain’s death in 2024. The inaugural festival saw thousands gather as a landmark billboard honouring the restaurateur was unveiled, recognising the contribution of the businessman widely regarded as one of the pioneers of Britain’s modern curry industry.
This year’s festival will once again place his legacy at its heart.
Born in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, before settling in Bradford, Hussain built his career through determination, innovation and an unwavering belief in raising the profile of South Asian cuisine in Britain.
From the original Akbar’s restaurant on Leeds Road, he went on to establish ten restaurants across the UK while expanding into property investment, hospitality and retail through businesses including Vanilla Rooms and Durrani’s Jewellers.
Yet those closest to him often spoke less about his commercial success than his passion for hospitality.
“My journey was fuelled with passion and enthusiasm,” Hussain once said. “It was motivated by the constant reminder of my respected father.”
A graduate of Bradford College, he developed many of his own recipes and became known as ‘King of Curry’ for introducing new concepts to Britain’s curry scene, including halal continental cuisine alongside traditional South Asian dishes and his famous ‘naan-tree.’
His influence reached far beyond his own restaurants.
As a multiple Curry Awards winner, Hussain became a mentor and inspiration to countless restaurateurs, proving that British Asian businesses could compete nationally while remaining rooted in their communities.
For many customers, Akbar’s became more than somewhere to eat. It became a place where birthdays, graduations and family milestones were celebrated across generations.
That connection explains why last year’s Leeds Road Festival resonated so deeply.
The festival did not simply mark the anniversary of his passing; it also celebrated the values Hussain represented: entrepreneurship, generosity and community. Thousands attended the event, which culminated in the unveiling of a permanent billboard paying tribute to his life and achievements.
Organisers hope this year’s festival will build on that success with live entertainment, family activities and food bringing visitors back to the street where Hussain’s journey began.
Akbar’s will once again play a central role in the celebrations, reflecting the business that became synonymous with its
founder’s name. For many, however, the festival is about far more than restaurants.
It is a celebration of a man whose story mirrors that of many British Asian families arriving with little, building something extraordinary through hard work, and creating opportunities for others along the way.
Nearly two years after his death, Shabir Hussain’s influence can still be seen across Britain’s restaurant industry.
On Leeds Road this August, it will also be felt in the community that continues to honour the businessman whose vision transformed not only a single restaurant, but an entire industry.
