Takeaway to open in Denton Holme this year after Covid delays

Once known as Surma, the Denton Holme takeaway was in business from the late 90s, but shut down in 2020 as ongoing business problems such as staffing issues – exacerbated by the pandemic – saw the business’s demise.

Initially, it was planned for an Indian takeaway to return to the unit on Denton Street in Denton Holme – under a different name (Red Chillies) – in September 2021.

The takeaway will serve Indian and Bangladeshi food, similar to what had previously been served in Surma and its successors.

READ MORE: Best Indian restaurants in Carlisle according to TripAdvisor reviews

Iftikar Hussain, a spokesperson for Red Chillies, said prior to the initial plans to open the takeaway last September: "The owners hope to wow the local community with fabulous friendly service while moving into the Denton Holme area.

"They are very open to suggestions of different kinds of curries.

"We will have house favourite curry dishes and will introduce many more with changes of cooks from time to time when the business cycle demands it."

Iftikar, who has lived in the city for more than 35 years, and has since seen many changes of hands in the takeaway industry, said that there were delays experienced because of some disputes which he claimed have since been resolved by the Ombudsman service.

This means now, with the energy supply set to be reinstated in a few weeks, the takeaway which will trade under the name ‘Red Chillies’ will be opening this year, as early as autumn, Iftikar said, but ‘definitely before the Christmas holidays of 2022’.

The original Surma Indian takeaway originally opened in 1998.

The property owners, Mahmud Ali and Nurun Nessa Khatun, ran Surma when it first opened.

They were also landlords at the former Dhaka restaurant in Carleton and the Bari Restaurant on West Tower Street.

The Denton Street premises has since been undergoing a renovation.

READ MORE: Remembering Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Carlisle, bringing people together