People come to Belgrave Road for a sit-down meal and they’d get dressed up – it’s not like anywhere else

RESTAURANT owners on Leicester’s Golden Mile say they are looking forward to welcoming back their customers after making it through “the toughest year yet”.

Before the pandemic, Belgrave Road would be packed with people, particularly during wedding season, between the beginning of spring and the end of summer.

Whether planning to eat out or not, shoppers along the road would undoubtedly end up dining at one of the spots for authentic Indian food where recipes have been passed down through generations.

But for many of them, with the exception of the brief Eat Out to Help Out scheme, the past 12 months have been hard.

Mirch Masala had reopened in October 2019, after a devastating fire which destroyed Belgrave Commercial Centre in January that year.

But four months later, it had to close in line with lockdown rules, delivering another big blow for the business.

Nisha Popat, who owns the restaurant alongside her husband Pradeep, said: “After reopening, it was brilliant. We got through Diwali and had a great four months or so.

“It was soul-destroying for people in the area when we had to close.

“It felt like it did when he had the fire.”

Throughout the pandemic, Mirch Masala and other restaurants have continued to trade as takeaway services, but to them “it’s not the same”.

Nisha said: “People would come to Belgrave Road for a sit-down meal and they’d get dressed up to come and eat here with their families

“Everyone says it’s where they would come to get a meal that’s not the same as anywhere else.”

Some days, it has cost Mirch Masala more to be open than it has taken, but they have persevered and hope they have helped to keep morale high among the community of other businesses.

“It’s our area, we have to keep going for our community” she said.

Chai Paani, owned by Sanjay Chudasama, has been established in Belgrave Road for 13 years and in that time has built a reputation as a local favourite, boasting numerous accolades for its vegetarian cuisine.

Like most restaurants, the lockdown for Chai Paani has been a “rollercoaster”.

“It was difficult to plan for anything because whenever we did, the legislation would change,” Mr Chudasama said.

Despite the challenges, he said he was grateful for the financial support offered by the government.

While its restaurant doors are closed, Chai Paani’s award-winning menu has been available for takeaways, which he said has been able to keep running thanks to