‘IT’S ONLY A BUILDING, BUT TO ME IT IS LIKE WINNING THE LOTTERY’
Halal restaurant relaunches almost 10 years after closing
A NEW halal steakhouse and dessert lounge has launched in Newcastle – after its owner waited nearly 10 years to get his hands on his dream location.
Raoof Mohammed’s new venture, the Retro Lounge, has opened in Berkeley Court and will offer top quality steaks, burgers and desserts in an alcohol-free, family-friendly environment.
The Borough Road restaurant is a relaunch of Raoof’s previous eaterie of the same name, which was in Broad Street, Hanley, until the building was compulsorily purchased for the Smithfield development in 2012.
And Raoof, who lives in Etruria, says the new location – which was previously the Blue Chilli Thai restaurant – is the only place he would consider to reopen the lounge.
The 50-year-old said: “I have been after this location in Newcastle ever since I heard about the compulsory purchase order in Hanley all those years ago.
“I knew it was the right place for the Retro Lounge, and I even offered the Blue Chilli £70,000, but they said no. I’m very stubborn so I was prepared to wait and drove Ubers in the meantime.
“One day, shortly before the first lockdown, I was driving past and saw that it had become available.
“I rang Louis Taylor estate agents straightaway and said I wanted to view it right now. I walked up the stairs and said I would take it there and then without even looking round.”
Raoof has spent the past year renovating and refurbishing the venue from top to bottom, including new top-of-therange kitchen equipment and furnishings.
The menu will include prime Aberdeen Angus free-range grass-fed steaks and burgers, with a range of desserts such as waffles and cookie dough, along with smoothies, milkshakes and other alcohol-free drinks.
The team plan to introduce vegetarian dishes next month, and are looking for a local fruit and vegetable supplier for the business.
Raoof ’s nephew, Amber Shabbir, will be the general manager, and his niece, Shabnam Shabbir, will be running the front of house.
Three members of staff from the Hanley Retro Lounge are rejoining the business, and the team are also looking for two more front-of-house staff and one person to work in the kitchen.
There will be two sittings for food – 5.30pm to 7.30pm and 8pm to 10.30pm – and the venue will be open until 11.30pm Sundays to Thursdays, and 12.30am on Fridays and Saturdays.
During the current pandemic rules, sittings are limited to 20 diners at a time so people will feel ‘comfortable and safe’.
Raoof said: “We still have a lot of loyal customers, even though we have been closed for 10 years, because everyone knows what the Retro Lounge stands for.
“There’s a gap in the market in Newcastle for this kind of place. Everyone will be able to come here and relax in a family setting and feel completely comfortable and safe.
“There are nights when I can’t get to sleep because I’m so happy and excited about it. Some people may think it’s only a building, but to me it’s like winning the lottery.”
■ The restaurant is fully booked for the next two weeks and reservations – including private VIP bookings – must be made in advance on 07538 204510.