Black Country balti fight brewing
Restaurants in a Black Country town have cooked up a campaign against moves to prevent the world-famous balti name being used outside the city of Birmingham.
Restaurants in a Black Country town have cooked up a campaign against moves to prevent the world-famous balti name being used outside the city of Birmingham.
They say the ban would cost thousands to alter menus and signs – with many having to change the name of their business entirely and fears are growing some restaurants in Lye would even have to close as a result.
Birmingham City Council is considering trying to trademark the name balti so it can only be used at restaurants in the city.
It says this will protect the dishes' name and help restaurants in the city – which claims to be the birthplace of the balti. The council says it has the same right as the makers of champagne, in France, and Wensleydale cheese in Yorkshire.
But Rais Miah, who runs the Balti Bazaar, in Lye High Street, said the move would have a severe impact on restaurants in other areas.
He is now calling on establishments across Dudley borough to get in touch so objections can be raised to the move.
They are asked to contact him on by e-mail at: rais_miah@live.com.
Mr Miah, a representative of the Guild of Bangladeshi Restaurateurs, Staffordshire and Black Country Suburbs Branch, said the issue was causing serious concern among businesses. "I have been approached by many restaurant owners and managers who are clearly very angered and concerned about this plan.
"Birmingham City Council have put forward this plan as it is their belief the Balti dish was created in the city.
"But if they have not considered what this will mean to other restaurants.
"Restaurants, not just in the West Midlands but across the country, will have to spend a lot of money to change their menus and signs. At such a time as this recession period businesses cannot afford extra burden of expenditure.
"I think it is just another tactics of the Birmingham City Council to squeeze out more money from the already hard-working restauranteurs."
Birmingham Council's proposal has also been criticised as "absurd" by Dave and Lin Homer, both aged 56, who run a warehouse in Dudley called Mister Daves.
Mr Homer was the first person to open a balti house in Lye 25 years ago.
Simon Houltby, spokesman for the council, said there were no firm plans to try and get the name trademarked.
"All we have said is that it would be something we would be interested in looking at. We have never said anything more committed than that," he said.
" All we said was if someone were to do this it should be Birmingham as the balti was created here."
