Chef Atul pulls out of Mailbox but is still keen to open in city Mystery surrounds Michelin-starred restaurateur’s decision to ditch plan
MI C H E L I N- S TA R R E D chef Atul Kochhar has axed plans to open his first Birmingham restaurant at the Mailbox.
There had been much anticipation surrounding the opening of celebrity chef Kochhar’s new restaurant, NRI, at the Mailbox after the news emerged in January last year.
The Mailbox officially announced the move two months later and hoardings featuring the TV chef were places in the planned home for his restaurant at the front of the Mailbox – a 5,000 square feet unit previously let to Emporio Armani.
But these have now been taken down. Artist’s impressions were even drawn up to show what the restaurant would look like.
But after delaying the original October 2017 opening date, the Post can now reveal that Kochhar is looking elsewhere in the city to open a restaurant.
His spokeswoman said: “We plan to open a restaurant in Birmingham in the near future and we’re currently in discussions with landlords regarding the location.”
The spokeswoman said Kochhar did not wish to comment further.
At the time, Kochhar said: “I’m very excited to be opening my new concept in Birmingham, a city which I have long admired for its diversity and food culture.”
A Mailbox spokeswoman said: “The NRI vinyls were taken down because the licence expired on the imagery.
“With regards to whether Atul is still coming to the Mailbox, there is no further update at this time.”
The NRI restaurant – which stands for Not Really Indian, would have been the first of its kind in the UK.
The menu was described as “showcasing high-quality but affordable spiced dishes that draw inspiration from the chef ’s travels around the globe”.
Fellow chef Tom Aikens revealed Kochhar was opening in Birmingham during the Mailbox launch of his own restaurant, Tom’s Kitchen.
Aiken, who also runs Tom’s Kitchen deli at the complex, said Atul had been questioning him about trade at the high-end shopping and lifestyle destination.
Aiken said: “Atul has been asking me lots of questions about what it’s like here, how’s business, how’s the location, that kind of thing.”
In September 2017 a spokesman revealed the planned October restaurant launch had been delayed due to a “number of factors”.
Kochhar, a Saturday Kitchen regular on Saturday morning TV, is only the second Indian chef to receive a Michelin star – awarded to his London restaurant Benares in 2007.
It is regarded as one of the world’s best Indian restaurants.
The chef restaurateur also runs several other successful restaurants in the UK. He recently displayed his sharp business sense on Channel 4 show Million Pound Menu –a foodie version of Dragon’s Den.
Kochhar appeared on the programme as one of ten potential investors who pored over the business plans of foodie entrepreneurs, weeding out weak profit margins or sums that didn’t add up before deciding whether to hand over enough cash to help them open a restaurant.
David Pardoe, head of marketing at the Mailbox said: “There is no further update at this point in time.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming a number of new retailers to the Mailbox over the coming months; including men’s footwear brand, English Brands; Burrows & Hare menswear; and Pinocchio’s - a new family run independent Italian restaurant which will open in September.”
Pinocchio’s will replace Strada, which closed in May.
Other restaurants at the Mailbox include Gas Street Social.
Shops include Heal’s home interiors as well as fashionwear brands such as L.K Bennett and department store Harvey Nichols.