Popular Indian restaurant Deolali in the heart of one of Birmingham’s most notable foodie hotspots, Moseley, is set to reopen after securing a £1.15million investment from the FDC's Regional Growth Fund.
National investor Frontier Development Capital (FDC) provided the funding to Land & Estate Development to refinance, reopen and refurbish the restaurant post-pandemic, creating 15 new jobs.
The restaurant was founded in 2005 and quickly rose to popularity through tasteful British dishes with an Indian twist that welcomed the likes of Ronnie Wood and reggae pop band UB40. The investment will support Land & Estate Development's business plan for the reopening of Deolali, which closed following the impact of the pandemic, with a new ‘Street Kitchen’ open throughout the day alongside a traditional restaurant.
Alfred Bartlett, Director at Land & Estate Developments, said: “We saw Deolali as a unique restaurant opportunity in Moseley and our new business plan will build on the previous restaurant and then some. The intention is to create a friendly and lively environment for both intimate and family dining as well as a go to venue for networking and for just catching up with friends. The new Street Kitchen will offer vibrancy and culinary delights during the day, while the wider restaurant and bar will surpass the old Deolali, at its best, and build on the previous prestige cuisine that people flocked to. We look forward to the next chapter in Deolali’s story.”
Kam Sanghera, Director at Land & Estate Developments, said: "Named after an important British Army transit camp in India, Deolali is a place to bring people together, enjoy authentic foods and relieve some of the madness of everyday life.
“Despite the impact of the pandemic, Deolali had both a loyal customer base in the Midlands and a reputation with big names that came to visit. We believe these customers are eager to get back to the Indian fine dining experience in Moseley village.
"Following this investment from Frontier Development Capital, we aim to create new jobs in the city and bring this restaurant back to life and with it, the high quality dishes that its customers
loved previously. The new direction for Deolali and the wider business venture we are embarking on would not have been possible without the funding provided by FDC.”
Gerald Gannaway, Investment Director at Frontier Development Capital, said: “Frontier Development Capital has a strong track record in providing flexible investments to support businesses across the UK. Given its previous popularity, bringing this loved restaurant back to life following the pandemic is a real moment for the area.
"With the investment and new business plan in place, Deolali has huge potential and we look forward to working with Kam and Alfred in the coming months to realise this potential.”