Mumtaz director saves one of the Leeds’ largest restaurants from closure

Mumtaz Food Industries director Rab Nawaz has re-acquired The Chandeliers restaurant on Leeds Dock, Leeds, following a buyout of the third party management which had been in charge since 2012.

Originally opening in March 2009, the restaurant underwent a £3.3m fit out and created more than 50 new jobs at its peak on the dock-side site.

This was the first restaurant venture outside of Bradford for the multi-million pound Mumtaz Food Industries.

The 250-seat, 10,000 sq ft restaurant – one of the largest in Leeds – had been 18 months in development with no expense spared on the designer fittings and Murano chandeliers - all hand-picked by Mumtaz director Rab at the time.

But as the parent company continued to push into new markets and overseas, in 2012 Mumtaz Leeds was transferred over to a separate management company.

The name changed to ‘Chandeliers’ whilst still preparing and serving Mumtaz food in the restaurant.

Four years on, Rab has now bought back the restaurant, and is now revitalising the interior and remodelling the business ethos to fit the restaurant’s reinvention.

He explained: “Mumtaz Leeds was really a labour of love for me all those years ago and, whilst we had to make some hard decisions at the height of the recession, I never stopped believing the restaurant could be a huge success.

“I am now delighted to have personally taken back full control of the restaurant and the name has been changed back to Mumtaz Leeds. There have been many changes; the interior is updated, the menus are being revamped and we are looking forward to welcoming back Mumtaz customers, both old and new, over the coming weeks and months.