Raval Offers £500 Prize in Charity Challenge for Children’s Hospital
NEWCASTLE-GATESHEAD, UK. April 25th, 2025 — A fiery food challenge at one of the UK’s top Indian restaurants is turning up the heat — not just on plates, but across the country. What began as a cheeky dare from a loyal customer has grown into a national fundraising movement in support of Newcastle’s Great North Children’s Hospital.
At the centre of the campaign is Raval Indian Brasserie & Bar’s “Inferno Curry Challenge” — a handcrafted dish packed with ghost peppers, naga jolokia, and scorpion chillies, clocking in at over 1 million Scoville units. Anyone who can handle the heat is in with a chance to win a £500 cash prize.
It all started when a regular customer, nicknamed “Curry Hell Carl”, jokingly told the team: “Best curry I’ve ever had, but not hot enough.”
Raval’s chefs rose to the challenge and created The Inferno. Carl returned, took it on… and beat it.
The moment was caught on camera and has since gone viral, generating over 100,000 views on Raval’s Facebook page.
The campaign has already received strong regional coverage in ChronicleLive, Hits Radio, NewcastleWorld, and The Northern Echo, and now aims to go national.
Among the first to rally behind the idea was Chris Foulkes, CEO of KAEFER UK & Ireland, who visited the restaurant and said: “You’ve got people’s attention. Now do something big. Do some good.”
“Chris’s encouragement and KAEFER’s leadership example gave us a clear sense of purpose,” said Nas Islam, Raval’s General Manager. “His support helped shape the community focus of this campaign.”
The live Inferno Curry Challenge Final will be held on Tuesday 27 May at 6pm, where 10 finalists will go head-to-head for the £500 prize and the title of UK’s ultimate spice conqueror.
People are invited to join the movement in three ways:
- Eat It: Post a 30–60 second video tagging @ravalrestaurant with #RavalInfernoChallenge
- Fund It: Donate at www.justgiving.com/page/ravalinferno
- Pass It On: Nominate a friend, colleague, or celebrity to join
“We’ve always believed food brings people together,” added Islam. “Now we’re using that spirit to do something meaningful and support seriously ill children.”
The Great North Children’s Hospital, part of Newcastle Hospitals Charity, is one of the UK’s leading paediatric centres. Donations go toward improving care, comfort, and outcomes for children and their families.
ENDS