Akbar’s to continue hot streak by opening Bradford Chinese Halal outlet after help from Gordons

Wednesday 10th October 2012

One of Bradford’s most successful Indian restaurant groups is spicing up its offering by opening an outlet offering Chinese halal cuisine in the city.

Akbar’s, founded by successful entrepreneur Shabir Hussain in 1995 and now boasting 11 restaurants across the north of England and Scotland, will open its new venture at 122-124 Leeds Road in late autumn, after help from Yorkshire law firm Gordons.

The new two-storey site, named Akbar’s Oriental, is just yards from the organisation’s original restaurant, which is still open, the group’s headquarters and its cafe, all of which are also in Leeds Road. The new site was formerly an Indian restaurant owned by another organisation.

Mr Hussain said: “We’re aware many people in Bradford like the unique Akbar’s experience and are interested in enjoying fine Chinese food. We’re therefore making both available to them, without customers bound by Islamic dietary laws having to worry about breaking the rules.”

Simon Mydlowski, a commercial property solicitor at Gordons, advised Akbar’s on key aspects of its new venture, including the tenancy agreement, acquiring the building’s existing fixtures and fittings, and liaising with surveyors.

Mr Hussain said: “Simon has advised us on the property aspects of most of the buildings we now occupy and we’ve always found him approachable and proactive. In this transaction, he had to move particularly quickly, as the deal had to be effectively concluded within a couple of months, and, as we expected, he didn’t let us down.”

The Akbar’s Group, whose mission has always been to serve the very best in authentic South Asian food, now also has restaurants in Leeds’ Eastgate and Greek Street, plus others in Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Sheffield and York.

Simon Mydlowski said: “We’re very proud of our long-standing association with Akbar’s and it was a pleasure to help them with this important new venture. This is a vital piece of diversification by the group and, given Shabir’s business record, I’m certain it will be successful.”