New Melton Indian restaurant to open in former pub building

A new Indian restaurant is to open in Melton this month after the owner spent more than £300,000 renovating a former pub.
Atul Dawda pictured outside the old Bricklayer's Arms in Melton in March last year as work started on the renovation of the former pub to convert it into an Indian restaurant EMN-180911-110649001Atul Dawda pictured outside the old Bricklayer's Arms in Melton in March last year as work started on the renovation of the former pub to convert it into an Indian restaurant EMN-180911-110649001
Atul Dawda pictured outside the old Bricklayer's Arms in Melton in March last year as work started on the renovation of the former pub to convert it into an Indian restaurant EMN-180911-110649001

Soi Indian Restaurant will serve food seven days a week in the Greenslade building formerly occupied by the Bricklayers Arms.

The property, which dates back more than 150 years, has provided owner Atul Dawda with a real challenge to convert it for modern day use over the last two years.

He told the Melton Times: “It’s been a real struggle but I’m really pleased with how the building looks now.

The new frontage for Soi Indian Restaurant in Melton, which is due to open in the renovated former Bricklayer's Arms pub EMN-180911-111604001The new frontage for Soi Indian Restaurant in Melton, which is due to open in the renovated former Bricklayer's Arms pub EMN-180911-111604001
The new frontage for Soi Indian Restaurant in Melton, which is due to open in the renovated former Bricklayer's Arms pub EMN-180911-111604001

“I was left with just four walls to work with because it is such an old property.

“We had to put a new ceiling in and overall we must have spent more than £300,000 on it.”

The name, Soi, is an abbreviated word for ‘spice of India’, which Atul says is too commonplace with Indian restaurants to use again.

He also owns a restaurant called Spice of India, at Syston, and formerly owned another at Oadby before selling that to his brother.

The new Melton restaurant has two cocktail bars and a function room, as well as the main dining areas.

It will be open from 5pm to 11pm Mondays to Thursdays, 5am to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and all day on Sundays, with a banquet feast buffet served.

“Over the years, most food served in Indian restaurants is Bengali but our restautant will be serving proper Indian food which people actually eat in India,” said Atul, who is a single father with a 10-year-old daughter.

“Our menu will have dishes which I don’t think people will be able to get anywhere else in the area.”

Two chefs have already been employed but vacancies are still waiting to be filled for some of the 10 staff required.

Go online to www.facebook.com/meltonmowbraytown/ to register an interest in a job at the restaurant.

Dignataries are being invited to an opening night at Soi before Atul hopes to open for business on November 26.