'Sheeran can't find a curry like ours in America'

Alice CunninghamSuffolk
News imageMitu Belan Three men wearing chef whites and hats as well as blue aprons stand with another man with red hair wearing a white long sleeved T-shirt who is holding a white bag filled with a food order. Mitu Belan
Chefs at Curry India in Framlingham were left a little starstruck when Ed Sheeran came to pick up an order on Tuesday

A restaurant owner said Ed Sheeran told him he cannot find a curry anywhere near as good where he lives in the United States.

Mitu Belan owns Curry India in Framlingham, Suffolk, and has been serving up curries to Sheeran, 35, for about 10 years.

Belan has even created the singer his own special curry, called Ed's Special Paneer Chilli Masala, which he made for him when he visited on Tuesday.

The restaurant owner said he and his staff were very proud to serve Sheeran over the years.

News imageMitu Belan A man wearing a grey cap and white T-shirt takes a selfie. A man with red hair and a long sleeved white T-shirt stands next to him. They are both smiling at the camera. They are standing in the front part of a curry house. Mitu Belan
Mitu Belan said Sheeran had been visiting his Framlingham restaurant for about 10 years

"Yesterday I saw him and I said, 'You've come a long way [from America for a curry]'," Belan explained.

"He said, 'Yes, I miss the curry because there is no curry like this there'.

"That's amazing, we feel very proud."

Sheeran moved to the United States last year, but kept his Suffolk home, which boasts two on-site pubs.

Belan said he asked Sheeran if he would permanently move his family across the pond, but Sheeran responded with: "No Mitu, this is my home, this really is my home."

News imageStuart Howells/BBC Ed Sheeran performs on stage while playing a guitar. Thousands of people watch from below and in front of the stage.Stuart Howells/BBC
Sheeran described Suffolk as his "safety" on the final night of his Portman Road shows in 2025

The singer is often spotted at Portman Road attending Ipswich Town games and grew up in Framlingham.

Belan said his staff loved meeting him whenever he visited and his children even met him several years ago.

The staff even once made rapper Stormzy a curry when he was visiting Sheeran in Suffolk.

"He's very friendly, like a normal customer," Belan continued about Sheeran.

"Even when he comes to the restaurant and it's full of customers, he just says, 'If anyone wants to take a picture, I will take it'.

"You just can't believe he's a superstar when you see him."

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