Bunta Beer launches glass bottles at The Pem

Bunta Beer has launched its first glass bottles, giving the independent Indian-inspired beer brand a new way to reach premium restaurants and bars.

The 330ml bottles made their exclusive debut at The Pem, chef Romy Gill MBE’s restaurant at the five-star Conrad London St. James. 

The launch marks a fresh step for Bunta as it looks to become part of more modern dining experiences.

Founded in 2025 by New Delhi-born entrepreneur Gunikka Ahuja, Bunta was created to complement Indian food. Its flagship lager has a light, crisp character, with citrus notes from orange peel and subtle coriander from coriander seed. At 0.5% ABV, it offers a lower-alcohol option, and is also gluten-free and vegan.

The beer itself hasn't changed. Instead, the new bottle format is designed to give it a more considered presentation at the table, where drinks can be given as much attention as the food. Ahuja hopes bottles will eventually account for half of the business.

Bunta now has over 100 listings across the UK, including restaurants, pubs, hospitality venues and specialist retailers. Distribution is supported by Champers Drinks.

Gill first discovered Bunta at a Diwali event last year. She says supporting smaller producers is important to her, particularly as she built her own career without established industry connections. She felt the beer was a natural match for The Pem’s contemporary Indian cooking.

The two women share Sikh heritage and a love of food, family and bringing people together around the table. When the opportunity arose to launch Bunta at the restaurant, Ahuja fast-tracked production of the glass bottles so they would be ready for the debut.

The bottle artwork features Ahuja’s brother, who also appears on the original can design. This time, he is shown relaxing with a beer after work.

For Ahuja, the new format is about making sure choosing a lower-alcohol drink does not mean compromising on flavour or the dining experience. The launch at The Pem is a first step in her plans to take Bunta beyond the traditional curry house and into more premium settings.

Restaurants, hotels, bars and other hospitality businesses can enquire about stocking the bottles through Bunta Beer or Champers Wholesale.

http://www.buntabeer.com

https://champerswholesale.com

Bunta Beer Reports 40% Growth as It Rethinks Britain’s Beer and Curry Pairing

Beer and curry have long been a favourite British pairing. 

But as Indian dining becomes more varied, adventurous and sophisticated, should we give a little more thought to the beer in our glass?

British-Indian alcohol-free brand Bunta Beer thinks so. Ahead of National Curry Week, which runs from 5–11 October 2026, it is encouraging diners to reconsider the familiar drinks traditionally served alongside Indian food.

Founded by Gunikka Ahuja, Bunta was created to offer a contemporary alternative to established curry-house beers. Ahuja moved to London from Los Angeles, bringing her Indian heritage and international experience to a brand designed around food, flavour and changing drinking habits.

The business reports 40% year-on-year growth, with new accounts spanning restaurants, hotels, pubs, independent shops and specialist drinks businesses. Recent additions include the Royal Albert Hall, Novotel, Pahli Hill, Mandira Kitchen, Bombay Bustle and The Gladstone Arms.

That expansion reflects Bunta’s belief that the drinks menu deserves the same attention as the food menu.

Across Britain, diners are exploring regional Indian specialities, street food, contemporary restaurants and premium meals at home. For Ahuja, this growing curiosity presents an opportunity to rethink what accompanies those dishes.

Bunta describes its beer as alcohol-free, with low carbonation and flavours developed to complement Indian cuisine. That could appeal to anyone seeking an alternative drink for their next curry night, whether dining out or eating at home.

Pairing beer with Indian food involves more than finding something cold. Bitterness, malt, body and carbonation can influence how a drink works alongside chilli, creamy sauces, fragrant spices and smoky tandoori dishes.

A rich curry and a fiery dish may therefore call for different qualities in the accompanying beer.

For National Curry Week inspiration, Ahuja recommends the comforting Saag Murgh at London’s Bombay Bustle, and the Masala Haddock Bun at The Latimer, featuring battered fish, lettuce, cheese and tartare sauce.

Her choices also include Pahli Hill’s fish curry with green mango, coconut and tamarind, plus dishes at Oudh 1722 and The Gladstone Arms.

Of course, readers can experiment closer to home too. Your favourite takeaway, a homemade curry or a regional recipe could provide the opportunity to explore an alcohol-free pairing.

Bunta’s message is straightforward: as Indian food continues to evolve, the drinks served alongside it can evolve as well.

Perhaps this National Curry Week, the most interesting change will be what you pour alongside your dinner.

Find out more at buntabeer.com.

Mumbai Meets Mayfair: Bombay Bustle x Bunta Beer Bustle Bowls

Bombay Bustle has teamed up with recently launched Bunta Beer to give your lunch plans an upgrade - say hello to the Bunta Bustle Bowl! 

Pairing Bombay Bustle's iconic Bustle Bowls with Bunta, brewed with bright citrus notes and a clean finish crafted to complement the spice, richness and layered flavours of Indian cuisine, this limited-edition meal deal of the moment is made for every occasion, from client lunches to catch-ups with friends or a well-earned midday break. 

Bombay Bustle brings the energy, diversity and flavours of Mumbai to the heart of London's iconic Mayfair. 

Inspired by the city's iconic dabbawalas and the remarkable lunchbox network that has kept Mumbai moving for over a century, the restaurant celebrates Indian cuisine through bold regional flavours, generous hospitality and dishes designed to be shared. 

At its heart is the spirit of Mumbai itself, a city where food is woven into everyday life, bringing people together across homes, workplaces and communities.

Bunta Beer complements Bombay Bustle's modern interpretation of Indian dining, encouraging guests to slow down, share a meal and enjoy the conviviality that has always been at the heart of Indian food culture.

Bombay Bustle and Bunta Beer have joined forces over a shared passion for Indian heritage, storytelling and innovation. Guests can enjoy signature Bustle Bowls paired with Bunta Beer as part of a limited-edition lunch and early dinner menu, available Monday to Sunday.

Together, the brands are highlighting how Indian cuisine deserves the same level of thoughtful drink pairing traditionally associated with other global cuisines.

The Bombay Bustle x Bunta Beer pairing menu

MAGIC MASALA BOWL + Bunta Beer — £28

Paneer Pasanda, Til Til Aloo, Jeera Rice, Paratha & Green Chilli Pickle

GRAND PUNJAB BOWL + Bunta Beer — £30

Saag Murgh, Til Til Aloo, Jeera Rice, Paratha, Mango Pickle & Kachumber

COASTAL CURRY BOWL + Bunta Beer — £33

Malabar Lamb Curry, Til Til Aloo, Jeera Rice, Paratha, Lime Pickle & Kachumber

Speaking about the partnership, Bunta Beer founder Gunikka Ahuja told That's Food and Drink: “Bunta celebrates the flavours and memories of Indian culture, bringing them into London's modern dining scene. We want to redefine non-alcoholic beer as a premium, flavour-led pairing that belongs at the table.”

Chef Surender Mohan, Culinary Director at LSL Capital, (owner of Bombay Bustle) told us: "For me, it's always about flavour first. I don't drink alcohol myself, so I'm always looking for drinks that can genuinely complement a meal. 

"Bunta Beer has a clean, refreshing character that works beautifully with the bold spices and regional flavours of our Bustle Bowls. It felt like a pairing that made perfect sense.

"We were drawn to Bunta's appreciation of Indian cuisine and the thoughtfulness behind a beer crafted to complement its bold, layered flavours. Together, we are celebrating Indian flavours in a fresh and contemporary way, creating a pairing that feels approachable, memorable and rooted in the vibrant spirit of Bombay.”

And Gunikka's top bowl choice?

“I'd probably choose the Grand Punjab Bowl.

There's something incredibly nostalgic about saag. Growing up, it was one of those dishes that appeared on the table during family meals and everyone instinctively reached for it. With the freshness of Bunta alongside it, the richness feels beautifully balanced. It's comforting but still feels surprisingly light.”

Bunta Beer X Bombay Bustle runs until the end of September.

You'll find them at 29 Maddox St, London W1S 2PA

For bookings visit www.bombaybustle.com or call 020 7290 4470.

Bunta Beer: The Inspirational Story Behind the UK's First Non-Alcoholic Indian Craft Beer

Discover how former Adidas executive Gunikka Ahuja left a six-figure career to create Bunta Beer, the UK's first non-alcoholic Indian craft beer designed to perfectly complement Indian cuisine.

Sometimes the biggest business success stories begin with a simple conversation.

For Gunikka Ahuja, it started when she mentioned to her brother she was thinking of walking away from a six-figure career with Adidas to launch a beer company. His response was short, but unforgettable:

"Our food deserves better."

Those four words became the inspiration behind Bunta Beer, now recognised as the UK's first non-alcoholic Indian craft beer created specifically to complement Indian cuisine.

Growing up in New Delhi, food was always at the heart of family life for Gunikka. Sunday biryanis, celebrations and gatherings around the table created lasting memories where food represented culture, tradition and connection. Beer was often present too, but it never seemed to enjoy the same thoughtful relationship with the meal itself.

After moving to Los Angeles to study textile technology and later building a successful innovation career with Adidas, regular visits to her brother in London introduced her to Britain's much-loved tradition of enjoying a curry with a pint.

Yet something didn't feel right.

While Indian cuisine in the UK had evolved dramatically, the beers traditionally served alongside it had not. 

Many were heavy, overly bitter and excessively fizzy, often overpowering rather than enhancing the complex flavours on the plate.

Rather than accepting that as simply "the way things are", Gunikka saw an opportunity.

Leaving behind a career worth more than $100,000 a year was undoubtedly a leap of faith, but it allowed her to pursue a vision built around flavour, innovation and cultural pride. After more than 50 recipe iterations, she developed Bunta's flagship Citrus Lager, a light, refreshing, alcohol-free beer featuring delicate orange peel and coriander seed, ingredients that naturally echo many of the flavours found in Indian cooking.

The results speak for themselves.

Since launching in 2025, Bunta Beer has expanded into more than 40 restaurants across the UK, introduced draught beer, built a thriving direct-to-consumer business and earned a prestigious Gold award at the 2026 London Beer Competition. At just 60 calories per can, it is also vegan and gluten-free (containing less than 20ppm gluten). https://londonbeercompetition.com/en/competition-global-results/2026/

For lovers of Indian food, it's an exciting reminder that great food deserves equally thoughtful drinks.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, Gunikka's journey offers an equally powerful lesson: sometimes the best opportunities come not from following a well-trodden career path, but from spotting something everyone else has overlooked. 

When passion, culture and innovation come together, remarkable things can happen, and occasionally, they arrive in a beautifully crafted pint.

To learn about Bunta Beer please visit them at https://www.buntabeer.com

If you want to discuss stocking Bunta Beer info@buntabeer.co.uk