Favourite East Yorkshire Indian restaurant expands to Beverley

The premises which will be home to the new restaurant.

AN Indian restaurant which has built a reputation for excellence during 17 years operating in Hornsea is to bring its top quality food and service to Beverley as part of an expansion plan.

Sonali Spice, a favourite with diners at New Road, Hornsea, is preparing to open in early August at the first-floor property in New Walkergate, Beverley, which became vacant following the sudden closure of Rumi’s.

Sonali Spice is not connected with Rumi’s, which went into liquidation in March 2018. Mohammed Hussain, owner of Sonali Spice, will create eight jobs at the new restaurant which will have a capacity of around 90.

He said: “We are doing some decorating work, we have taken delivery of the furniture and we expect to open early in August. I have wanted to open a restaurant in Beverley for a long time because it is a busy town and we already have customers who live in the area. This is a nice, big building in an ideal location.”

The restaurant occupies the first floor of a two-storey building which is the former home of NFU Mutual. Alan Kirkman, joint owner of the property, said it was completely renovated after the purchase and opened in July 2015 with Rumi’s on the first floor and Magnet Kitchens on the ground floor.

Magnet continues to trade successfully but the search began for a new restaurant tenant when Rumi’s went into liquidation.

Alan said: “We repossessed the building in March and have since appointed Garness Jones to market and manage the property. We’re delighted to have signed a lease with Mr Hussain, who has been running a very highly-regarded restaurant for a long time now.

“I’ve seen very good reports about the food and the service at his restaurant in Hornsea first-hand and on social media and I’m looking forward to him opening here, with diners able to enjoy stunning views across the rooftops towards St Mary’s Church.”

Paul White, Agency Director of Garness Jones, worked on the lease and Simon Preston, the firm’s Commercial Management Surveyor, will look after the management of the entire building.

Paul said: “In managing the property we are committed to working closely with the landlords and with both tenants in a transparent and supportive way. We are confident that Sonali Spice will be a great success because Mr Hussain has an excellent track record.

“The restaurant is a welcome addition to Beverley’s social scene and will help to cement the town’s status as a dining and drinking destination. With the Beverley Arms Hotel due to reopen soon the prospects for businesses in Beverley are very bright.”