The rise and fall of Brick Lane's ‘Curry Capital’

For two decades, Brick Lane‐Banglatown has been the semi‐official ‘Curry Capital’ of the UK. In 2010, there were nearly 70 curry cafes and restaurants, most of them Bangladeshi‐owned. However, by the summer of 2020, the number of such venues had fallen to 25. Fieldwork has revealed that the causes of this decline are complex and multifaceted. However, the post‐Covid‐19 pandemic era offers a singular opportunity for local Bangladeshi restaurateurs as footfall will dramatically increase with a new Town Hall and a Crossrail station opening in nearby Whitechapel.