'It used to be beautiful': The Curry Mile restauranteurs who say it's 'gone so downhill'
05.03.2023 - 10:33
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
The Curry Mile is a unique institution of which Manchester has been proud for decades - and you'll do well to find a resident who hasn't had a memorable time here.
The stretch of Wilmslow Road, which is in reality only about half-a-mile long, has given this section of Rusholme just south of the university an international reputation, an illustration of the city's spirit of enterprise and diversity.
However, some of those who know it best say robberies, drugs, and aggressive begging are taking the shine off this neon-lit stretch of south Manchester.
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Abdullah Albaydar's family has been running restaurant Al Jazeera for more than 30 years. He told the Manchester Evening News that the Curry Mile's "gone downhill" - amid robberies, rubbish, drugs and aggressive begging.
His friend and fellow business owner Muhammad Khader agrees. He has been running the Jafra restaurant as well as a local cash and carry for a number of years.
"You can see drug dealing happening in plain sight. They don’t even try to hide it anymore. Sometimes you see them with knives too," Muhammad said.
"Large groups also intimidate the shop and restaurant owners. It’s happened to me before, large groups of people coming into the restaurant, I’ve had to defend myself before."
Abdullah says more visible policing is needed. "There’s a lot of gangs and crime here now, it’s not for families anymore," he said. "We need more police.
"It can get really busy here, especially at weekends, but you hardly see any police. If you go to places in the city centre there’s always loads of police, but they’re not as busy as here. I've seen people get mugged