The shortage of skilled chefs in the country is forcing at least two curry houses to close each week.
The shock number of closures was revealed by the sales data of Cobra, the beer sold in most curry houses, The Mail on Sunday reported.
The figure was confirmed by The Bangladesh Caterers Association which represents the UK’s 12,000 curry restaurants and takeaways.
It warns hundreds more will shut down soon despite their continued popularity.
Campaigners have said government-led efforts to train local British chefs at ‘curry colleges’ was not working.
Pasha Khandaker, president of the BCA, said: “Politicians all love curries but our industry has never been recognised. Now the industry is in a mess – you simply can’t run restaurants without chefs.”
Eman Ali, founder of the British Curry Awards and owner of Le Raj restaurant in Epsom, Surrey said: “This is a way of life under threat because right across the country there are no chefs coming in.
“The Government’s policy is totally destroying our industry.”
Under the Government’s rules, chefs must earn annual incomes of £29,570, which is at least £5,000 more than the standard pay for such posts, and the restaurants that they work in cannot offer takeaway services,”
The Government said they wanted to nurture more domestic talent,” he added.
“This means the restaurant sector offering training to attract and recruit resident workers to meet their staffing needs,” a spokesman said.
