Michelin joy for Dubai-owned Indian restaurant

One year after opening, a Dubai-owned restaurant in the UK city of Manchester has been included in the Michelin Guide 2017.

Asha's, which is owned by Wafi Hospitality, is the first Indian restaurant in Manchester to be recognised by Michelin.

The news comes as Asha's sister restaurant in another UK city - Birmingham - celebrates its eighth consecutive year of inclusion in the Michelin Guide. 

Wafi Hospitality invested about US $2.5m (AED 9.2m) in the Manchester-based restaurant, which is located in a historic Victorian building. 

In a statement, the Asha’s team said the success of their first year can be attributed to Bollywood star and namesake Asha Bhosle, who was the inspiration behind the restaurant, with many of the dishes on the menu originating from her own recipes.

Bhosle, who is 84 years old, continues to select and grind spices at Mumbai’s souks, distributing her signature masala to the 10 restaurants worldwide bearing her name, including in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.

She works closely with executive chef Ashwani Rangta, who hails from north India, to oversee the array of modern Indian cuisine on offer in Asha's. 

Aril Group managing director Susan Potter said: “The Asha’s restaurant team are delighted that their contemporary Indian menu has proven popular with the judges and the public. The innovative menu celebrates authentic Indian flavours and spices, while providing a modern twist on recipes our guests know and love - all using the best fresh and locally sourced ingredients."

A further seven Asha's outlets are due to open before 2018.