Kashmiri Aroma opens its fifth branch, at the former site of Bradford's The Turf pub

Kashmiri Aroma opened its doors to 350 guests, who were given the opportunity to look around the newly-renovated building, to commemorate the occasion.

The restaurant - which opened its first branch in Ilkley in 2008 - will play host to evening buffets and party functions, serving an array of traditional Kashmiri cuisine, as well as offering paninis, burgers, steaks, grilled seafood, desserts, milkshakes and mocktails.

Kashmiri Aroma - which, in addition to its Ilkley branch, also has restaurants in Halifax, Wakefield and Sheffield - now occupies the site where The Turf used to be, at the junction of Keighley Road and Emm Lane, a stone's throw from Lister Park.

The building dates all the way back to the 1800s, while a foundation stone above the door dates The Turf back to 1894.

The former Turf pub

It was built opposite Lister Park after a toll road was created between Bradford and Bingley, which suggests that the site may have been a coaching inn.

In January 2017, the Telegraph & Argus reported that The Turf was to shut its doors, with locals describing the historic pub's closure as "the end of an era."

Taking on such a huge old building was a task in itself, with a few bumps along the road, but I am delighted with the outcome." - Tariq Mahmood, Kashmiri Aroma co-founder

Another customer, amid speculation that the pub was to be turned into an eatery, said at the time, "This local meeting point has been around for over 200 years, do we really need another curry house?"

But, nearly three years later, Kashmiri Aroma's co-founder Tariq Mahmood has expressed his happiness over the move.

"Taking on such a huge old building was a task in itself, with a few bumps along the road, but I am delighted with the outcome. I hope that this branch of Kashmiri Aroma will provide the local community with a relaxing and family orientated place to dine and to enjoy the culinary wonders that we will be offering, from breakfast to evening", he said.

Sunday's opening was dedicated to the memory of Safena Kauser Sabir, Mr. Mahmood's late wife and his fellow co-founder, who sadly passed away over a year ago.

Zainab Mahmood, Safena's and Tariq's youngest daughter, was given the honour of unveiling a memorial plaque in memory of her mother, to officially open the restaurant.

Her siblings Haroon and Hannah were also in attendance at the opening.

Tariq Mahmood said: "This branch is dedicated to the memory of my late wife Safena - the children helped to capture the elegant and sophisticated interior that Safena was so fond of. She would be very happy with what we have created and will be looking down on us with delight."