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Curry MileThe Curry Mile is a nickname for the main high street of Rusholme in Manchester, part of the larger Wilmslow Road. The name is earned from the surprisingly large number of Asian restaurants along the road, thought to be probably the largest concentration outside of India itself. Although less than a mile, the road boasts at least 50 restaurants, take-aways and kebab houses at any one time, with an equally high turnover of ownership. What makes the Curry Mile different from other collections of Indian restaurants is the sheer concentration of them, back to back the entire length of the road. Equally unique is the way that the 'mile' starts and stops so abruptly, rather than fading in and out. The number of dining establishments means that competition is extremely potent, and this keeps prices low and quality and quantity high. Any restaruant which does not maintain extremely high standards is likely to fail, and the turnover of new establishments replacing old is an almost weekly event. Equally important is service, and most diners can expect to be treated like royalty, often with condiments provided 'on the house'. This generally favours both parties, with diners feeling suitably pampered, and restaurants receiving generous tipping, helping to boost their meagre prices. At night, the neon lights of the many restaurants illuminate the road in a similar way to Las Vegas, and the streets are alive and populated well into the early hours of the morning. This level of human presence and lighting also makes the Curry Mile a surprisingly safe venue for a night out, despite it being only 10 minutes walk from Moss side and Longsight. That said, unless Indian food is the subject of the night out, one is likely to find Rusholme in general rather lacking in variety. For its cultural intensity, it is surprising how few Asian diners are present each night, with the majority being made up of students and white young professionals. This is no reflection of the quality or authenticity of the food however, and says more about the associated poverty of the surrounding areas. Each year, the Eid festival celebrations transform the Curry Mile into a nighttime party, although it is sadly equally easy for it to turn violent, and in recent years the Police presence around the mile has been high and zero-tolerance. Also situated along the mile are a variety of Asian fashion, grocery and music shops. The flavour of Asian cultural influence permeates most enterprises, including the local Kwik Save supermarket, which only stocks halal meat.
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