A beloved Indian restaurant which was destroyed by a fire at the beginning of the year is finally reopening. Staff and customers at Mumbai Indian Kitchen, in Blackpill, Mumbles, were devastated after an electrical fire ripped through the family-run business and caused serious damage to the outside structure of the restaurant - and everything inside.
The restaurant had been in the family for some 25 years, manager Naz Ahmed explained, and in that time had gained a positive reputation for its fresh and authentic Indian meals. When it reopens on Thursday, November 10, old customers may recognise some of the chef's specials but much of the menu is new, staff say.
As well as traditional mains like a curry, korma, bhuna or masala and grilled meals including tandoori chicken and chicken or lamb tikka, the restaurant is also set to serve a variety of biryani dishes, vegetarian meals and seafood dishes, and a wide range of chef's specials, including kahari, jalfrezi and garlic chilli, each served with chicken, meat, prawn or king prawn. There's also a wide range of sides to choose from and a children's menu too. You can get the biggest Swansea news stories straight to your inbox with our newsletter.
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The reconstruction of the restaurant has taken around six months, Naz told WalesOnline. He's grateful for the support of the local community and is looking forward to welcoming old and new customers alike. For more stories about Mumbles, go here.
"The whole restaurant was burnt down, we had to re-strip and rebuild, refurbish everything," he said. "It's a new structure and we now have an open kitchen where you can see your meal cooked right in front of you.
"It's a family business, we've had it for 25 years. My grandad works as the head chef alongside other family members. We are really excited to be reopening."
Back in January, five fire crews were called to the blaze at the restaurant, which is located on Mill Lane in Blackpill, Mumbles. Pictures from the scene showed black smoke coming from the rear of the building whilst crews on ladders tried to extinguish the flames.
At the time, severe damage could only be seen to the roof of the building - but photos shared by restaurant staff later showed the serious damage to the inside of the restaurant too.
Confirming the restaurant's closure on January 29, a short statement on the Mumbai Indian Kitchen page on social media said: "To all our customers it is with a really heavy heart that we are writing this but due to an electrical fire within the restaurant we will be closed until further notice."
Six months later, staff showed photos of construction workers and employees rebuilding the restaurant from the ground up, before changing their logo on September 4 and writing "Sometimes you just have to start over differently."
On Saturday, November 5, staff finally confirmed that the restaurant was approaching its opening date. An update read: "The countdown has started and we are excited to open our doors to you again and show you all the changes that have been made at the Mumbai Indian Kitchen.
"We have been working hard behind the scenes to get our restaurant up to its full standards ready for all our customers to enjoy. We will be opening our doors on Thursday, November 10! Mumbai Indian Kitchen, 5 Mill Lane, Blackpill, Swansea. SA3 5BD. 01792 402 402. Book your tables now to avoid disappointment."
Mumbai Indian Kitchen reopens at 5.30pm on Thursday, November 10. Its opening hours will be 5.30pm to 11pm seven days a week.
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