Well-known South Shields pub transformed into Mumbai Emperor restaurant by family behind Sunderland's Goa

The former Tavistock Italian Retro, and once Stanhope Hotel, in Stanhope Road, has stood empty for more than a year, but has now reopened as Mumbai Emperor restaurant.

It’s been brought to the town by businessman Syed Khalid Miah, who’s had great success with Goa and Mumbai Silk in Sunderland, as well as Mumbai Haswell Plough in East Durham.

The family-run business specialises in fusion Indian cuisine and, although there are lots of Indian restaurants in the town, he believes he can bring something different to the area.

The restaurant owner, who has leased the site from businessman Russell Foster, said: “As well as traditional dishes, we offer Khalid Signature dishes, which are very popular at our other sites. We also do an exclusive dish, called the Staff Curry which is like the food we eat at home.

“I know there’s a lot of Indian restaurants in South Shields, but I’ve been in Sunderland for 47 years now and I felt the time was right to open here too, it’s been a dream of mine.”

Other popular features on the menu include a vast cocktail list and the happy hour offer which offers four courses for £10.95 every day from 5pm to 7pm.

The new restaurant, which also has a function room upstairs and a bar area, has created 16 full and part-time jobs.

See what we thought of sister restaurant Mumbai Silk in Sunderland here.