Malik’s delighted to spice up his restaurant

A HUGE expansion is under way at an Indian restaurant in Chadderton which will become the largest eatery in Oldham by the end of the month.

Owner Malik Miah is investing £180,000 to extend Delight Spice in Peel Street, off Middleton Road, to create a wine bar, lounge and cabaret dining in premises formerly occupied by a charity.

Mr Malik (40), from Chadderton, has acquired the premises — which are part of the same building as his restaurant — on a long lease and is currently overseeing the refurbishment and renovation work.

On completion he will have a 300-cover restaurant offering a everything a diner could desire, he told me during a tour of the extension.

Delight Spice, which he opened two years ago, will remain untouched and his regular customers, who prefer the intimacy of the existing eating area around one of the Oldham’s few open kitchens, will have that option.

In the new area, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Mr Miah will offer cabaret evenings, either from the extended restaurant or through the new wine bar and lounge.

He said: “This has been a dream of mine for a long time and once I was able to secure the premises to the rear of the restaurant I was able to push ahead with my plans.

“I have a very loyal clientele and they are supportive of what is happening.

“Those who wish to use the existing restaurant won’t be affected at all, but from the end of the month we can cater much more to the people of Oldham who wish to have a night out.”

A chef for the past 26 years, Mr Miah prides himself on his home cooking and welcomes customers to view his food preparation at his open kitchen.

He added: “This won’t change when I have more people. The service will remain personal and the food will always be prepared fresh and to my own recipes.

“I feel it is important that the customers know that the owner is also the chef and that they chat to me in the restaurant after their meal.”