The owner of Memsahib Gin and Tea Bar has sold his sister restaurant East India Café.

Renowned Cheltenham restauranteur Mohammed Rahman, who is best known by many as having run the restaurant Spice Lodge for more than 15 years, has purchased the venue on the Promenade.

East India Cafe was opened in Cheltenham in November 2014 by Litu Mohiuddin and his team, and quickly established a strong reputation for its Anglo-Indian fine dining inspired by the British Raj period. The restaurant received many accolades over the years, including the Good Food Award in 2019 and 2020.

Litu Mohiuddin said: "We have ambitious plans for Memsahib Gin and Tea Bar over the coming years and a number of other projects in the pipeline. We felt the time was right to sell East India Cafe, so that we can give our total focus to this work.

"Having built the East India brand up and earned an excellent reputation, it was very important to us that we sell the business to somebody that we knew would maintain the high standards that the restaurant is well known for.

"We are absolutely delighted therefore to have reached this agreement with Mohammed Rahman, who has an unparalleled reputation in this area. We are very confident that East India Cafe will continue to prosper under his leadership and guidance.

"We will be working closely with Mohammed to ensure a smooth and seamless transition."

Mohammed Rahman said: "I have for a long time been aware of and admired what Litu and his team have achieved at East India Cafe, with its very high standards and unique menu. When I became aware that the restaurant may be available, I jumped at the opportunity and I am delighted that we reached such an amicable agreement.

"East India Cafe very quickly transitioned during Covid to enable diners to enjoy their food at home through both takeaway and home delivery. I will be continuing this in the short term at least, but will also be looking at ways to safely re-open the restaurant as soon as possible."

Due to Covid, there will people who are currently holding masterclass or general gift vouchers for East India Café that have not been able to use them.

Litu Mohiuddin said: "We urge anybody who has vouchers to get in touch with us at Memsahib Gin and Tea Bar via our website www.memsahibginandteabar.com.  We will then contact them to ensure that they can use their vouchers here."