A WELL known Indian restaurant is now under new management – with its bosses promising a five star Indian dining experience in more ways than one.

The Raj, based on Commissioners Road in Wadebridge recently reopened after an extensive refit.

The brains behind the new operation is Mas Ahmed, alongside his cousin, Sam. Mr Ahmed’s takeover of the restaurant means it has become the latest addition to a burgeoning business empire which includes supplying 600 Indian restaurants and the ownership of eight, soon to be nine venues of their own.

Mr Ahmed described how he ended up taking over the reins of the well-known Wadebridge restaurant. He said: “The Raj bar and restaurant has been in business since 2007 under its previous owners and I’ve been involved with it since day one working with the previous owners, but last year they decided to no longer be in the trade. My own business is called Eco Food Service, which has about 600 restaurants in the database that we service. Out of those 600 restaurants, we own eight of them, which is soon to be nine as we are about to open another.

“I’ve been involved in the food service industry since I was 18, then I went off to do my master’s in business at Kings College in London, but I’ve been involved in the Indian restaurant trade for a long time and I would say as a result I am an expert in how they should be run and what it really needs to be a success.

“While I am based in South Wales, I try to travel to Wadebridge as often as I can to monitor how its running under the team there but most of my involvement is remote.”

With the recent reopening, there are a lot of new things for customers old and new to experience within the building which still bears the same name – although new look signage is along the way.

Mr Ahmed continued: “We wanted to deliver a refit that would enhance our plans to offer a premium dining experience at a great value price and upon taking over, we had items of furniture for example that had not been replaced in 17 or 18 years.

“The kitchen has been refitted, the floors replaced, the walls polished, and everything is made to look nice, with lots of interior improvements too, including tables and chairs. In the middle of May we plan to launch an improved menu as well as new signage outside the shop, with the entire ethos to give the place a modern look inside and outside.”

Central to the new relaunch is a five-star dining experience in more ways than one, with the venue proud to have obtained its five-star hygiene level. “Under previous management, the food star rating wasn’t to the standard we want and our team and us have put a lot of work in to make it so. It is our aim to welcome back both local customers and the passing tourist trade in the summer.”

THE coming of a new year brought with it new plans and a fresh new look for one of Wadebridge’s best known dining establishments.

Under the new ownership and leadership of Mas Ahmed and his cousin Sam, it was all hands on deck as the duo sought to put their stamp on their new business, with the aim of bringing it into the 21st century replete with the modernity expected by diners while keeping true to the traditions of Indian fine dining heritage.

It isn’t only at the front of house that has seen improvements, either, with an entirely new kitchen also being fitted in order to provide the power to the chef’s skill as they seek to produce a wide range of Indian delicacy favourites.

Mas Ahmed said of the new refit: “We wanted to deliver a refit that would enhance our plans to offer a premium dining experience at a great value price and upon taking over, we had items of furniture for example that had not been replaced in 17 or 18 years.

“The kitchen has been refitted, the floors replaced, the walls polished, and everything is made to look nice, with lots of interior improvements too, including tables and chairs. In the middle of May we plan to launch an improved menu as well as new signage outside the shop, with the entire ethos to give the place a modern look inside and outside.”

The restaurant has also received a five-star hygiene rating, something which has come through the collaborative efforts of the team and the investment into the new facilities put in place by its new business owners, an achievement that Mr Ahmed said was of great pride to him and his restaurant team at the Raj in Wadebridge.