A Bradford businessman has won permission to build what could be Europe's largest Indian restaurant.

And the owner of the Mumtaz Paan House says he is also poised to clinch a million pound deal to provide cuisine at major sporting events.

Managing director Dr Gul-Nawaz Khan Akbar hopes the multi-million pound expansion of the restaurant in Great Horton Road will boost tourism in Bradford, as well as creating hundreds of jobs.

The new-look restaurant will seat 400 people and is scheduled to be complete in November. As work begins in April, a temporary restaurant will be under construction across the road. The temporary building will then be demolished to make way for a customer car park.

Dr Akbar said: "It will be a masterpiece and our flagship restaurant. We could have taken the restaurant anywhere, but it was important that it remained in Bradford as this was where our success all began. I believe it will be the biggest Indian restaurant in Europe.

"The temporary restaurant will try out fresh concepts that will feature in the new restaurant." Haworth-based David Beighton Architects designed the building after Mr Beighton visited the Middle East and Italy to gain inspiration. Mr Beighton said: "It is a palace." The two-storey building will have a glass staircase, a waterfall and trees surrounding the dining area.

The restaurant has now been asked to provide meals by Letheby Christopher, who cater at the Gold Cup and Grand National.

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