A NEW Indian restaurant is to open in The Broadway shopping centre in the spring creating 90 jobs after a £1.4 million fit-out.

Papadoms will take over the vacant 6,500 sq ft unit in Charles Street, Bradford, to create a bar and cocktail lounge on the ground floor and a 400-seat restaurant on the first floor level.

Bavava Restaurants, the team behind the new Bradford venture, is set to begin fitting out the unit in a fortnight, with the end of March or beginning of April the intended opening date.

Sanjeev Sanghera, the firm’s founder and chief executive, told the Telegraph & Argus that the team was very excited about the prospect of opening up a second branch of the Papadoms brand.

“We think it’s going to be one of the most iconic Indian restaurants in the country - not just Yorkshire,” he said.

“When looking for a site, we looked at Leeds, but were blown away with Bradford and the regeneration of the city centre.

“There will be a bar and cocktail lounge on the ground floor and we will create an Indian streetscape on the first floor.

“We have created a brand and brew our own craft beer.

“We opened our first Papadoms in Sunderland 18 months ago and it’s now the number one Indian restaurant in the city.”

Mr Sanghera said he had been in the restaurant business for more than 30 years in Glasgow and was part of the city’s successful team to win the Curry Capital title - before Bradford took over the mantle, winning the title for a sixth year in a row last year.

He added that the new Bradford restaurant would create 60 full-time equivalent jobs, employing about 90 people.

Ian Ward, the centre’s general manager, said: “We’re very pleased to announce that Papadoms has begun working on the new restaurant in the centre, with plans to open in the next couple of months.

“ Papadoms’ blend will bring The Broadway’s food offering to the next level and shows our determination to bringing unique and new names to the people of Bradford.”