Voted Scotland’s best curry restaurant of 2025, The Radhuni in Loanhead is celebrating again after retaining its prestigious AA Rosette for the fifth year in a row.
It is one of only a handful of Indian-style restaurants in Scotland to have been awarded at least one Rosette for culinary excellence.
In October The Radhuni was named Scotland’s top curry house in Awards organised by national trade magazine Curry Life. Matin Khan, founder and Executive Chef of The Radhuni and its sister restaurant Itihaas in Dalkeith, was voted Scotland’s Best Curry Chef. Judges said he was one of the nine leading curry chefs in Britain.
Trophies were presented at a gala dinner attended by 500 guests at the Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel in London’s Mayfair.
His son Habibur, Managing Director of both restaurants (pictured with the new plate), commented: “Winning an AA Rosette is hard enough but keeping it year after year is even tougher. We have to demonstrate that we continually uphold the highest standards of food and service, which are also mirrored at Itihaas. Retaining this distinction is a tribute to the professionalism, dedication and hard work of our staff throughout the year.”
Rosette Awards are determined by an AA inspector during one or more visits to a hotel or restaurant during which the entire meal is assessed. The Radhuni was said to “achieve standards that stand out in their local area, serving food prepared with care, understanding and skill, using good quality ingredients.”
Gilson Gray, a full-service UK law firm, has announced the appointment of Steven Eckett as Head of Employment for England, an important step in the firm’s continued expansion across the UK.
Steven’s appointment signals the launch of Gilson Gray’s dedicated employment law offering in England. While the firm currently has an employment team based in Scotland, Steven will lead the development of a new London-based team. His remit includes growing the client base, fostering cross-border collaboration between English and Scottish offices, and building a strong national presence.
With over 30 years of experience in employment law, Steven brings a depth of expertise to the role. He has held senior positions in both private practice and in-house legal teams, including Summit Law LLP and Meaby&Co, where his work spanned complex employment matters across the commercial, industrial, and private sectors.
With international experience across Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and the US, Steven is well-positioned to advise businesses on intricate employment challenges and global compliance strategies.
Gilson Gray is currently undergoing a significant phase of expansion, marked by a wave of senior appointments alongside Steven, including Jeremy Davy, who recently joined as Partner and Head of Residential Conveyancing for England and Wales, and Linda Pope, who has been appointed as Partner in the firm’s London-based family law team. The firm is approaching 500 employees, offering a full suite of legal services in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, East Lothian, Aberdeen, Lincoln, and Angus.
Steven commented:
“Joining Gilson Gray is a fantastic opportunity to help shape the firm’s employment law offering in England. It’s an exciting time for growth, and I’m looking forward to working with colleagues across the UK to build something impactful and client-focused.”
Glen Gilson, chair and managing partner of Gilson Gray, added:
“Steven’s appointment is a key milestone in our UK-wide strategy. His depth of experience and commercial insights will be invaluable as we expand our employment law services and continue to grow our national footprint. Gilson Gray is proud to be a firm that attracts top-tier talent and delivers exceptional service across all disciplines.”
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Gilson Gray, the full-service UK law firm, has appointed Linda Pope as partner in its London family law team, marking a significant step in the firm’s expansion in the capital and continued commitment to growth across the UK.
In her new role, Linda will lead the development of Gilson Gray’s London family law offering, helping to attract new clients and enhance the firm’s profile in the city. She is also focused on achieving top-tier recognition for the department, including Legal 500 rankings – with the accolade of ‘recommended lawyer’ that she has personally received for the past three consecutive years.
Linda brings over two decades of experience in family law, having held senior positions at respected firms including Miles and Partners, Lock at Marlborough, and Edwards Duthie Shamash Solicitors. Her expertise includes complex financial remedy cases, disputes involving inherited wealth and family businesses, divorce settlements, and complex children disputes usually involving serious allegations of domestic abuse, making her a valuable addition to the growing family law team.
Linda’s appointment is one of several new senior hires by Gilson Gray, in London and the rest of the UK, reinforcing the firm’s commitment to growth and its ambition to enhance its standing as one of the UK’s most prominent legal practices. The firm now has over 450 employees, offering a full suite of legal services in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, East Lothian, Aberdeen, Lincoln, and Angus.
Glen Gilson, chair and managing partner of Gilson Gray, commented: “Linda’s appointment reflects our ambition to build a market-leading family law team in London. Her depth of experience and strategic insight will be instrumental as we continue to grow our presence and reputation. Linda joins our highly regarded family law operation which, building upon the successful leadership of the excellent Philippa Cunniff in Scotland, now looks to a UK wide footing.”
Linda added: “Gilson Gray is exactly the kind of law firm I’ve always wanted to be part of – multi-service, ambitious, and full of energy. I’m excited to work with like-minded colleagues and help build a team that can become a standout force in London’s legal landscape.”
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Scotland’s best curry chef and restaurant are on the outskirts of Edinburgh, judges at the British industry’s awards have announced.
Matin Khan, Executive Chef of Itihaas in Dalkeith, was named Chef of the Year and the 150 seat Radhuni in nearby Loanhead, run by his son Habibur, Restaurant of the Year in the Curry Life Awards.
They were presented last night (12 October) at a gala dinner attended by 500 industry leaders, restaurateurs, politicians and the media at the Marriott Grosvenor Square in London’s Mayfair. They are organised by national trade magazine Curry Life.
Judges said the Award “cements The Radhuni’s status as one of the top 20 curry houses in Britain and the best in Scotland, and celebrates the leadership of Habibur khan who has guided the family business and inherited his father’s passion.”
The Awards, hosted by ITV broadcaster Nina Hossain and which regularly attract UK Cabinet Ministers, are given on a regional basis.
They are billed as “highlighting outstanding performance, innovation and culinary excellence” in the sector.
There are an estimated 10,000 curry restaurants in Britain.
Judges said Matin Khan’s title made him one of the top nine curry chefs in Britain and celebrated “his almost four decades in hospitality, dedication to Bangladeshi cuisine and his contribution to the local community.”
They added that he followed “a culinary philosophy centred on balancing regional authenticity with customers’ beloved favourite dishes, all the while stressing value for money.”
Matin is the founder and Executive Chef of both restaurants.
The commendation said he had raised several hundred thousands of pounds for local good causes.
The Radhuni’s success was “the direct result of its family-rooted philosophy of treating every guest with honour, time and respect, commitment to cooking innovative regional dishes in small batches, and dedication to surrounding communities,” judges added.
Habibur commented: “We treat every guest as we would treat an elder in our own family and make them feel they’re in their second home.”
Among VIPs who have attended previous Curry Life Awards are Prime Ministers Sirs Keir Starmer and Tony Blair, London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan and former Home Secretary Dame Priti Patel.
Lord Karan Bilimoria, former President of the Confederation of British Industry who presented the Awards, described the industry as “a cornerstone of Britain’s culinary landscape.”
We would like to invite you to take part in Police Scotland’s evaluation project about missing people in Scotland. The evaluation aims to assess the level, quality and consistency of engagement between Police Scotland, partner agencies and missing people and their friends/families across Scotland, to help them improve the service provided.
Police Scotland have asked Progressive, its independent provider, to carry out the evaluation on its behalf. Progressive are carrying out one-to-one interviews throughout October 2025, each of which will last around 45 minutes – all sessions will be held online (via MS Teams), and you can take part at a time convenient to you. No one at Police Scotland will know that you personally have taken part and your contribution to the evaluation will remain anonymous – meaning you will not be named in any reporting. Progressive adhere to strict market research standards and ethics, so you can be assured of complete anonymity.
We’re keen to hear your genuine reflections and feedback about this important area for Police Scotland.
Please respond to stefan.durkacz@progressivepartnership.co.uk with your interest.
Employment Rights Bill – what’s changed?
Late payment of commercial debts remains a persistent issue in the UK, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. Despite longstanding legal protections, many businesses continue to suffer from delayed payments that disrupt cash flow and threaten financial stability.
The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998
The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 was introduced to address this problem by providing statutory remedies for creditors, and recent government proposals aim to strengthen these protections even further.
The 1998 Act applies to contracts for the supply of goods or services where both parties are acting in the course of business. Crucially, the debtor does not need to be a company – it is sufficient that the contract was made in the course of trade or business. Under the Act, creditors are entitled to claim interest on overdue payments at a rate of eight percent above the Bank of England base rate. In addition to interest, the legislation provides for fixed compensation depending on the size of the debt. Creditors may also recover reasonable costs incurred in pursuing the debt, beyond the fixed compensation.
Interest begins to accrue the day after the payment due date if one is specified in the contract. If no date is specified, interest typically starts 30 days after the latest of delivery, invoice, or acceptance of goods or services, provided the contract was entered into after 14 May 2013. While parties may agree to a different rate of interest or remedy for late payment, the courts will assess whether the contractual remedy is substantial. If it is not, statutory interest under the Act may still apply.
Future reform
In July 2025, the UK Government launched a consultation aimed at reforming late payment practices. The consultation, which runs until 23 October 2025, seeks to address the economic damage caused by delayed payments, which reportedly cost the UK economy £11 billion annually and result in the closure of 38 businesses each day. The proposed reforms include mandatory statutory interest for late payments, a cap on payment terms at 60 days, and the introduction of deadlines for disputing invoices to prevent delay tactics. The government also proposes increased board-level accountability for payment practices in large companies, financial penalties for repeat offenders, and expanded powers for the Small Business Commissioner.
For legal practitioners, the 1998 Act remains a vital tool in commercial debt recovery. When preparing court actions, it is essential to confirm whether a contractual interest rate applies and to include statutory interest and compensation where appropriate. Ensuring that the contract falls within the scope of the Act is equally important. As the consultation progresses, legal professionals and businesses alike should remain informed about potential legislative changes. The proposed reforms could significantly alter how interest and compensation are calculated and enforced, making it more important than ever to understand the current framework and anticipate future developments.
How we can help
Our Commercial Litigation team has extensive experience advising on late payment and debt recovery issues. We can help you assess your options under the current legislation and prepare for the changes that may follow the government consultation.
For tailored advice, please contact Gillian Murray at Gillian.Murray@andersonstrathern.co.uk or get in touch with us here. You can also view the consultation process on the government website here.
Full-service UK law firm Gilson Gray has appointed seasoned property lawyer Jeremy Davy as partner and head of its residential conveyancing division for England and Wales, helping to secure the firm’s position as the UK’s leading conveyancing practice.
Based in Lincoln, Jeremy will oversee Gilson Gray’s residential conveyancing division across England and Wales. He will focus on expanding the team’s operations, enhancing efficiency through technology and AI, and growing its headcount in key locations.
Jeremy brings a wealth of experience to the role and joins from Broadfield Law, where he was chief operating officer and partner, overseeing legal operations and driving business growth. Prior to that, Jeremy was director of conveyancing at Connells Group, where he first worked with Debbie McCathie, head of residential conveyancing at Gilson Gray, to develop strategic partnerships.
Jeremy began his legal career at Shoosmiths, where he progressed to partner and played a key role in establishing and growing the firm’s conveyancing arm. He also served as an advisor to HM Government, RICS, The Law Society and Land Registry in relation to residential property matters and home buying reform.
The appointment marks a key step in Gilson Gray’s continued expansion across England and follows a series of senior hires, including Monika Haidar as partner and head of residential conveyancing for London, and Rajan Shori as partner and head of real estate for England.
Debbie McCathie, head of residential conveyancing at Gilson Gray, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Jeremy to the team. His appointment marks another important step in our ambition to become the leading provider of residential conveyancing services across the UK. Jeremy’s strategic insight and commitment to innovation will be invaluable as we continue to grow our operations. At Gilson Gray, we’re proud to offer clients a seamless experience across every aspect of property, legal, and financial services.”
Now with over 450 employees offering a full suite of legal services across offices in Lincoln, London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, East Lothian, Aberdeen, and Angus, Gilson Gray is one of the fastest-growing law firms in the UK.
Jeremy added: “Gilson Gray has been on my radar for some time, and I’ve long admired its ambition and rapid expansion. I’m excited to join at such a dynamic stage for the firm and to help further develop its market-leading conveyancing operation, driving innovation and supporting continued growth across England and Wales.”