Suree Coates was crowned UK South Asian chef of the year after beating seven other finalists at Bradford College’s International Food & Travel Studio.

Suree, executive chef at The King and Thai Restaurant at the Forester Arms, Broseley, Shropshire, was presented with her trophy and £2,000 prize by broadcaster Gyles Brandreth at the Aagrah restaurant group’s annual charity dinner.

She said: “I was delighted to reach the finals and to compete with such accredited fellow chefs but to have actually won against such high-calibre competitors on my first year is beyond my imagination. I would like to thank the judges and look forward to returning to my restaurant to create more dishes for next year.”

Runner-up was Mushfiqur Rahman, who runs the New Delhi 6 restaurant at Sutton Coldfield, who won £1,000, while Kevin Hughes, head chef at Flannels, part of the International Academy Culinary Arts at Leeds City College, won £750 for third place.

Now in its eighth year, the competition is organised by the Aagrah Group after being established by managing director Mohammed Aslam.