Las Iguanas: Future of recently closed York restaurant revealed
A York restaurant which recently closed could be set for a new lease of life under fresh plans.
An application lodged with City of York Council would see Las Iguanas, in Back Swinegate, converted to house the Indian Tiffin Room restaurant.
Plans from the Indian street food chain would see signs displaying its branding and menus installed at its Back Swinegate entrance and on the Finkle Street side of the building.
It comes after Latin American restaurant Las Iguanas announced it was shutting its Back Swinegate branch for good earlier this month.
A company spokesperson told The Press their landlord had served notice on the premises where the restaurant has been based since 2016.
Indian Tiffin Room was founded by friends Suresh Raje Urs and Srini Sundaram who opened their first restaurant in Cheadle, near Manchester, in 2013.
Their restaurants serve street food and tapas-style sharing dishes inspired by different types of Indian cuisine.
Branches of Indian Tiffin Room have since opened in Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool.
The company’s website stated: “Indian Tiffin Room co-founders Srini and Suresh have known each other for over 20 years, whenever they got together, they would muse over their dream of going into business together and opening their own restaurant.
“They were confident people would embrace something very different to the great British curry house, opening their first Indian Tiffin Room in Cheadle. Restaurant openings in Manchester and Leeds followed.
“Indian Tiffin Room is a family, and they want their customers to feel part of their family, to share, chat and enjoy each other’s company whilst experiencing the type of food they grew up on in a modern, vibrant atmosphere.”
Speaking to The Press at the time of its closure on earlier this month, Las Iguanas’ spokesperson said the restaurant chain hoped to return to York in the future.
The spokesperson said: “We are disappointed to be leaving York following a fantastic time in this fabulous city.
“We would like to say a huge thank you to our fantastic team in York for all their hard work, and to our amazing guests who have supported us and enjoyed many great times with us over the years.”
The closure of the York branch comes after the restaurant chain’s operating company Las Iguanas Holdings Ltd was saved from administration through a restructuring plan.
A High Court judge approved writing off £37m in debt and a £3m cash injection from parent company The Big Table Group after hearing Las Iguanas was heavily loss-making.
There are 44 Las Iguanas restaurants across the UK.