A Troon restauranteur is planning an ambitious expansion across Scotland with as many as “eight or nine” new eateries.

Parveen Sharma, co-owner of 3idiots in Ayr and Troon, was a big winner at the 15 Scottish Curry Awards last week.

The popular Troon eatery was presented with the Special Recognition Award, with staff from the venue going up to collect the gong on stage. 

Parveen, who runs 3idiots with Guri Gurchet Singh, also earned a ‘highly recommended’ accolade in the best chef category.

The Ayr diner was crowned as Outstanding Restaurant of the Year at the 2022 awards, and Parveen admits this year’s double award nod is just as special.

He explained: “We only opened here in Troon six months ago, and have had so much success in a short space of time.

“We have invested so much in giving the restaurant a new lease of life, and it is now bigger than our venue in Ayr which opened in 2019.

“I originally had a street food stand, then decided to open a small restaurant in Ayr and it has gone so well from there.

“We must be doing something right, as our customers all leave happy but then come back time and time again.”

Parveen says taking home the special recognition award was a shock, but believe his staff deserved it for all their hard work since opening the Troon venue.

He said: “They sent us an email to say we were finalists, but as the awards came up on the night we didn’t think we had won anything.

“I was so shocked when they gave us the special recognition award, it is such an honour for all of us at 3idiots.

“Everyone was delighted and we all ended up dancing. I was just so happy for the staff because without them none of this would be possible.”

Parveen reveals he has ambitious plans to conquer Scotland with a chain of 3idiots restaurants, with the next venture coming soon.

He added: “I want to extend even further and have eight or nine restaurants across Scotland in places like Glasgow, Paisley and Kilmarnock.

“This is my passion, and I want to turn it into a huge success, so our next project is already in the works.

“A huge thank you has to go to the customers who support us every day, and who come back every time.

“Without them none of this would be possible, and I hope they can continue to support us moving forward.”