Currying favour for Indian fans (From Knutsford Guardian)

Currying favour for Indian fans

5:20pm Sunday 23rd December 2012 in News By James Wilson

THE future of one of Knutsford’s grade two listed buildings that has been derelict for more than four years has been secured.

The former Canvas Bar building on King Street, next to Piccolinos, has been empty since 2008 and last year Knutsford Town Council had said it was being ‘left to rot’.

But this week it was revealed the building will be restored and will open as an Indian restaurant in the New Year.

Shurid Ahmed, one of the owners of Eastern Revive, which has restaurants in Wilmslow and Warrington, told the Guardian the company’s new venture would be open in early February.

“It’s such a lovely building inside and with the beams it will look amazing once we have done it up,” he said.

“It has been in such a state of disrepair and has been left to deteriorate so we are going to give it some tender loving care. Knutsford is such a tranquil place and we want to associate ourselves with a place like that.

“Me and the family come to Knutsford to eat and spend time here and the Moor and the pool are great places.”

Shurid added that the opening date of early February was realistic.

“The guys who are doing the job for us did the one in Wilmslow and they are on to it already,” he said.

“We’d like to open in the first or second week of February and everything is in place and on order.

“The contractors know that they need to be out by the first week of February.

“The renovation will be in keeping with the building but with modern equipment, including iPads for people to browse on while they order.

“It’s challenging times for everyone at the moment and I hope that there is enough to go around.

“There are two fantastic Indian restaurants in Knutsford at the moment and hopefully we can bounce off each other.”