AN INDIAN restaurant and takeaway gave away hundreds of free curries last weekend to celebrate the opening of the refurbished business.

Temporarily closing its doors for a month-long refurbishment in January, Leigh Tandoori said goodbye with a charitable cook for the community.

Using the remainder of the food that the curry house had left in the Twist Lane building, chefs cooked up 200 free curries along with a number of starter dishes to be given away for free.

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Leigh Journal: The restaurant has a new bar, flooring, tables, and signageThe restaurant has a new bar, flooring, tables, and signage (Image: Leigh Tandoori)

Following the success of the idea, with dozens getting in touch to ask about the business' reopening, owner Kay Rahman decided to revive the free curry offer to mark the launch of the new and improved Leigh Tandoori.

Posting about the offer on social media, a queue formed out of the door on Twist Lane and 330 free meals were handed out to local people.

Leigh Journal: Handing out one of the 330 free mealsHanding out one of the 330 free meals (Image: Leigh Tandoori)

Kay, who has worked in the restaurant industry for the majority of his life, said: "After taking over the restaurant in May, we thought it was a little old-fashioned and as we didn't have an alcohol licence, we closed the restaurant and just operated as a takeaway.

"We thought it was best to refurbish the restaurant and give staff some time off, so we now have new flooring, tables, signage, and a bar, and wanted to offer the free giveaway again so people could see what we looked like inside.

"I really want to build a good reputation with local people and businesses in Leigh, so to see a queue for the meals and having such good feedback made me emotional; it was a great day.

Leigh Journal: Inside the refurbished restaurantInside the refurbished restaurant (Image: Leigh Tandoori)

Despite the difficulties caused by price increases in the cost of living crisis, Kay said that the main thing he is concerned about is building a good reputation and relationships with people in the town.

Waiting on an alcohol licence from Wigan Council, which Kay says is coming soon, Leigh Tandoori is now open both as a restaurant and a takeaway on Twist Lane.

Leigh Journal: Kay and co-manager Anwar Miah handing out free curries before the refurb in JanuaryKay and co-manager Anwar Miah handing out free curries before the refurb in January (Image: Leigh Tandoori)