The beat of drums alerted West Bridgford residents to the arrival of the town's new Indian takeaway with a difference. Queues formed outside the Bombay Sweet Centre, which sells much more than confectionery.
With all the hustle and bustle of staff jostling behind the counter and noisy chatter, it could be Mumbai, except it's what used to be Topknot in Gordon Road. Unlike a traditional Indian takeaway, this is more like a deli where all the snacks and curries are displayed at the counter.
The family-run business, which began in 1995 with an outlet in Hyson Green, specialises in authentic Indian cuisine with a twist. Breakfast is available all day. The Punjabi breakfast is a flatbread with a masala omelette and Bombay's baked beans. The Mumbai club sandwich is toasted sourdough topped with tamarind chilli chutney, masala potato and layers of paneer, with fried egg, cucumber, tomato and onion.
Poll: Are you celebrating the coronation this weekend? Let us know here
The good news is you don't have to be there before 11am as breakfast is served all day. If none of the nine options appeal, check out a section of freshly made snacks with plenty of vegan and gluten-free options.
Veggie samosas - good sized ones - are 80p. Paneer spring rolls, bread pakora, onion bhajis and lamb kofta kebabs are all less than £2. For something more filling the Mumbai street food section brings some spice to the suburb. Papri chaat is spiced potato with crushed chilli and lemon crisps; pani puri are crisp puffed balls filled with spicy potato, tamarind and red onion; and chole bhature is a crunchy dumpling bread with spiced chick peas - all priced £7.50.
Classic curries can be heated to eat there and then, or bought cold to warm up at home later. Punjabi chicken, Goan fish and lamb karahi are amongst the meaty options. Meat-free ones include aloo gobi, daal and mutter paneer. There's all the usual sides such as rice, roti and naan or explosive gunpowder fries.
To wash it all down coffee, Indian beers, wine and soft drinks are served. And it wouldn't be the Bombay Sweet Centre without the colourful sugary pink coconut, mango or pistachio barfi, a kind of creamy fudge, or gulab jamun (fried doughballs soaked in a rose-flavoured syrup) and chocolate and orange samosas.
Owner Rahul Passan has taken over the Nottingham institution started nearly 30 years ago by his parents Jeet and Neelam Passan, who are now retired. Their photo 'where it all began' is on the wall as a tribute to them.
He said he was taken aback by the constant queue outside the small shop. "It's fantastic. Since we started refurbishing this there has been great anticipation and we didn't realise how many of our customers south side of the river come to us. Thanks to them spreading the word to friends and family we have had a great turnout since 9am when we first opened.
"It's been really, really good and we look forward to cracking on and giving West Bridgford something a bit different to the deli scene."
Sera Baker, 42, of West Bridgford, is no stranger to the Bombay Sweet Centre in Radford Road. "We have been many times, so we are thrilled they have come over this side. The food is fresh and gorgeous. The samosas are the best in the city and my partner loves all of the milk sweets and I love all the vegan options I can have. It's really good food. I've bought samosas, pakoras, roti, rice, daal, chloe, barfi... everything."
Another difference is it's a daytime business, open Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 6.30pm and Sunday 10am to 5pm.
READ NEXT:
New Nottingham bar and 'dirty eating' takeaway with a difference opens
'Local lads' take over restaurant at historic Nottinghamshire coaching inn
Nottingham's first Restaurant Week set to showcase delicious deals from £5 to £25
Nottingham local elections updates as results start to come in
Police disguised in hoodies target retail park after 'significant amount of shoplifting'
