Curtain rises on restaurant for theatre’s new stage in life

Cardamom Black opens on December 1 in the former Empire Theatre which was home to Pinocchio’s restaurant.

Owned and managed by restaurateur Nick Rahman, the plush new eatery will offer diners a wide selection of South Asian dishes.

Nick, through his team of specialist contractors, has painstakingly brought the old theatre back to its former glory and it now boasts an interior that blends contemporary design with traditional features, including a grand stage area where live entertainment will be staged on selected evenings.

The restaurant also has two separate bars, an iced fish bar displaying fresh seafood, a daybed area where guests can relax and enjoy a special grazing menu, and options for private dining and conferencing.

“I have wanted to open my own restaurant in Harrogate for several years but could never find the right venue,” explained Nick.

“As soon as I learned the former Empire Theatre building was available I jumped at the chance as I knew that with the right investment, the beautiful building could be restored to create a truly stunning and unique restaurant interior.

“Harrogate has a vibrant restaurant scene, but I feel it lacks a high-end Asian offering and Cardamom Black will fill that gap, bringing unique South Asian dishes to Harrogate that are all made using only the finest, locally sourced ingredients.

“This, combined with glamorous surroundings and meticulous service, will make for a truly enjoyable and unique dining experience and I’m extremely excited about welcoming both locals and people from across Yorkshire and beyond into Cardamom Black.”

Nick Rahman’s family have been involved in the restaurant sector for more than 40 years. His father owns part of the largest chain of Kashmiri Restaurants in the UK and so he has been involved in the restaurant sector his whole life, most recently as a senior board manager within the chain.

Having run and managed restaurants within the chain, Nick knows what does and doesn’t work and has used that experience throughout the creation of Cardamom Black.

Signature dishes on the menu include: Nidderdale Lamb Chops (starter) – the finest Nidderdale lamb chops marinated in juices of smoked garlic, rosemary, roasted black pepper, a touch of roasted Cumin and crushed whole spices.

Cardamom Black is situated in the old Empire Theatre building, opposite Harrogate Theatre, and will be open from 5pm-10.30pm on Sundays & Mondays, 5pm-11pm Tuesday to Thursday, 5pm-midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. To book a table or find out more, call 01423 31 31 36 or visit www.cardamomblack.com.