Tandoori Sep/Oct 2014 | Page 7

in brief... The Imperial Durbar launches in Tooting The days of India’s 1940s Raj are given a new lease of life at The Imperial Durbar, an all-day café-cum-bar, which evokes the old East India Company. Owned by brothers Alastair and Nicholas Heathcote, environs here are replete with a sense of tradition – ranging from period furniture and artefacts to sanded oorboards. Decent cocktails are accompanied by daytime treats of pastries ans snacks whilst evening time food can be ordered via the cardamom Club takeaway nearby. Racism case against Le Gavroche dismnissed A racism case in which a receptionist of the two-Michelin starred restaurant was suing the establishment has been dismissed. The receptionist, who is Spanish, was sacked from her job after only being in her post for three weeks and replaced by a white woman. Though the receptionist claimed that the decision was based on race, the claim was rejected by a tribunal, which said it found no evidence of any discrimination by her employer. Asha’s to open in Manchester The restaurant brand inspired by Bollywood playback singer Asha Bhosle, Asha’s is to get a new site in Manchester this autumn. With the original UK branch already doing business in Birmingham, the new premises will cover a large 6,000 square foot space, encompassing two oors. riginally, launching in Dubai, in and spreading across the Middle East ever since, the Manchester restaurant will be overseen by Peter Warden, who has played a strong role in other restaurants in Manchester. It’s been revealed that the new opening will have Bhosle in attendance at the launch party. Go Indian with cheese The cheese manufacturing company Pilgrims Choice have launched a brand new range of 80g additive cheeses in bright and colourful packaging to inspire and encourage cheese lovers to try something just that little bit different. The Pick N Mix range is available