THE EYEWATERING cost of onions has left one curry house feeling the heat while a hike in alcohol prices has forced another to make changes. 

Rising costs have left some curry houses struggling to make ends meet with prices on basic items like onions nearly tripling.

The owner of Balti Mahal said the sheer rise in bills, taxes, and key ingredients has left restaurants in a catch-22 situation.

Manager Saiful Islam said the price of his usual order for onions went from £8 to £27 in the space of just one month.

"It is a very tough time for small businesses - our business is struggling too much.

"Every week, the bills are going up and ingredients prices are going up, some items have almost doubled.

"For example, we used to spend £7 to £8 on our onion orders, which is the main ingredient for our sauces. 

Worcester News: The main ingredient in Balti Mahal's curry is onion. The main ingredient in Balti Mahal's curry is onion. (Image: Balti Mahal)"Then it went to £20 to then £27 for the same amount in the space of just a month - it is now £18 but it is still going up."

He said the prices are almost changing overnight.

"If we raise the price, the customers cannot then afford it," Mr Islam said.

"Business is steady still but it is the overspending."

Worcester News: Saiful Islam (left) from Balti Mahal.Saiful Islam (left) from Balti Mahal. (Image: Balti Mahal)He said the price of milk has gone from 80p to between £1.60 to £1.80.

To mitigate some of the costs, the Astwood Road restaurant no longer sells alcohol - a decision taken by another Worcester curry house this week.

Altafs Balti on Tolladine Road has opted for customers to bring their own booze to avoid having to increase drink prices by almost double. 

Worcester News: Employees at Altaf's have been forced to stop serving alcohol. Employees at Altaf's have been forced to stop serving alcohol. (Image: Altaf's Balti)

There has been a tax hike on all alcoholic beverages being served in restaurants and pubs which is affecting business.

Altafs owner Nadeem Ahmed said: "Imagine as a customer, popping into your local restaurant and paying £4 for a drink to be then paying £8 - and the business is not even making money from it," he said.

"Then, on top of that, the customer is no longer happy because you are charging double."

"Everyone is struggling, which is part of the reason we have done this."

Worcester News: SADNESS: Monwar Khandokas (centre), manager at Ashleys, pictured in 2011 was the face of Ashley's restaurant. SADNESS: Monwar Khandokas (centre), manager at Ashleys, pictured in 2011 was the face of Ashley's restaurant. (Image: Ashleys, The Tything)Other curry houses in the city have been forced to change how they operate to deal with rising costs completely. 

Staff at Ashleys in The Tything revealed it was with 'immense sadness' and a 'heavy heart' that they would move from a restaurant to takeaway only earlier this year.

Other restaurants like Spice Fusion in Droitwich have been forced to close altogether.