Man who brought curry and shampoo to UK honoured

The gravestone of a pioneering Anglo-Indian man, who is claimed to have introduced curry and shampoo to the UK, has been restored.

Sake Deen Mahomed is also reported to have been the first Indian to publish a book in English.

Mr Mahomed, who lived in Brighton for four decades on Grand Parade, passed away in 1851 and was buried at St Nicholas’ Churchyard.

The Regency Society of Brighton and Hove (RSBH) said his grave had become overgrown and in a state of disrepair.

But the group have now restored the headstone, reinstated the kerbs and footstone, and cleared the surrounding area to preserve the city’s “rich and diverse heritage”.

“Sake Deen Mahomed is one of the most interesting and enterprising people to have ever lived in Brighton,” said Frances Lindsay-Hills, RSBH committee member.

“Ensuring his grave is properly maintained is a fitting tribute to his life and work.”

Born in 1759 in the northeast Indian city of Patna, he opened Britain’s first Indian restaurant, the Hindoostane Coffee House, in London in 1810.

Mr Mahomed’s contributions to Brighton were “particularly significant”, according to RSBH.

He opened indoor baths in Pool Valley on the seafront in 1814, where he introduced the therapeutic Indian massage technique known as champi, which he called “shampooing”.

Mr Mahomed’s business thrived and attracted wealthy clients.

He was appointed “shampooing surgeon” to King George IV and King William IV.

James Tulley, Vice Chair of the Regency Society, said the restoration of Mahomed’s grave “ensures his story continues to be told and his legacy preserved for future generations.”