Wellesbourne restaurant ravaged by fire 18 months ago to be refurbished

The owners of a popular Wellesbourne restaurant ravaged by fire 18 months ago have been given planning permission to refurbish the eaterie.

Shah’s Indian Restaurant, in Charlecote Road, closed following the blaze in November 2018 which gutted the interior of the building.

Now owner Shah Hussain, who also owns award-winning Kineton restaurant Shukurs, has had plans approved by Stratford District Council that will see a two-storey extension to the side which will house the kitchen and storage areas and another extension to the rear of the building that will improve the layout and also act as a function room.

Permission was also granted to extend the car park which will now accommodate 40 cars including three for disabled drivers.

In a planning statement considered by the council, other alterations not requiring planning permission were also listed and these included the conversion of the existing function room into offices and the removal of an overgrown leylandii cypress hedge from the eastern boundary which will be replaced with a hedge of native species,

The statement explained: “Shah’s Restaurant has been a valued local amenity for many years, providing high quality food and service and helping reduce the need for travel.

"The proposal would help to save and enhance the restaurant and make it more accessible, contributing to the local economy, the social fabric of the village and environmental sustainability.”

It added that the building was quite nondescript and appeared to be a 1970’s bungalow that had been extended upwards before being converted into a restaurant. It explained that the 16 extra car parking spaces would be to the rear and would relieve the need for diners to park on the road.

There were two letters objecting to the plans on grounds that included parking, traffic, litter and noise while one letter supported the plans stating that there was a lack of restaurants in the village and that the proposals would improve the restaurant and parking.

Members of Wellesbourne Parish Council raised no objection but asked that the smoking area be moved away from the front entrance.