Former Norwich pub now an Indian restaurant

A former city pub will soon be serving curry instead of pints as it has been converted into an Indian restaurant.

The former Duke of Norfolk in Mousehold Lane has been rebranded Rishi and is due to open before the end of the year.

It is not the first time a former city pub has found a new life.

Last year Refreshers in St Giles Street, near Guildhall Hill, was turned into an Italian restaurant, while The Galley Hill in Drayton Road, which had been closed for almost four years and looked certain to be demolished to make way for housing, was partly converted into a beauty salon.

And the former Larkman pub in Norwich is now an Aldi supermarket.

Rishi is being rented from Norwich developer, Peter Colby, and its new chef, 'Monty' Ali will be known to curry lovers in the city as he has worked at several of Norwich's finest Indian restaurants, including Ali Tandoori and the former Bombay restaurant.

'Monty' said: 'It's due to open before the end of the year, probably in between Christmas and New Year.

'Between �150,000 and �175,000 has been spent on the restaurant and it will have more than 100 seats for dining.

'We took out everything of the building so the inside is all new. It will be a very modern restaurant and one of the best in the city.'

The Duke of Norfolk was built as a pub in 1938 with James Edward Crockford as the first licensee. From 1988 until 1992 Albert Bennett, the former Norwich City footballer, was licensee.

The pub was designed by W Copeman, who also designed the Morrison Lodge, which used to be in Harvey Lane and is now demolished.

Last year the Duke of Norfolk was put on the open market by then owner Enterprise Inns for a price tag of �275,000.

Through our Love Your Local campaign the Evening News has been highlighting what pubs offer and how they contribute to the community and has urged people to pay a visit.

Have you got a pub story for the Evening News? Call reporter David Bale on 01603 772427 or email david.bale2@archant.co.uk.