India Cottage celebrates 40 years

Restaurants across the country are reporting the extent of the crisis enveloping the curry restaurant sector so it’s positive to hear that closer to home India Cottage in Ringwood is celebrating 40 years in business.

The family-owned restaurant was opened in Ringwood on 4 October 1981 by Muhammed Mannan and his wife Momotaz.

Now in the ownership of son, Sadeq, aka Shad, the restaurant has recently celebrated its 40th anniversary.

A plaque to mark the occasion is placed at the entrance of the restaurant and it seems a long while since Muhammed and Momotaz first opened the doors of India Cottage in the Eighties. They have five children: Shah, Parvin, Sadeq, Emran and Nasrin.

Shad, studied at Brockenhurst College and Salisbury University, and with a business and marketing degree under his belt he returned to a life he knew and loved.

In 1991 Shad took over from his father and became the owner of India Cottage.

He has since taken the restaurant from strength-to-strength and 30 years later India Cottage is thriving.

Lockdown created many challenges for the Indian restaurant industry, as it did for every restaurant owner, and Shad invested wisely in his outdoor space.

Combining the indoors with the outdoors, he has created a heated al fresco dining area.

The open fire setting provides a relaxed ambience for an evening with friends, family or business colleagues.

Shad filming 'on location' at the restaurant with Bournemouth University

Forty years, who would’ve thought? We couldn’t have done this without the support from our loving customers and staff. Long may India Cottage continue serving the community.

As well as this there is a unique beach hut experience where diners can connect to their own music and stay warm when eating their meals.

At India Cottage, the family plays an important part in the restaurant’s history. Shad’s father, Muhammed was born in Sylhet, Bangladesh and arrived in Euston in London in 1963.

Five years later he went back to Bangladesh and got married to Momotaz before returning to the UK and settling down in Ringwood with his family.

India Cottage was opened during an era when the exciting flavours from the Indian Subcontinent had experienced a boom in Britain and the industry was growing rapidly. The restaurant soon had a loyal customer base and some diners from the 1980s still eat there today.

Shad said: “Forty years, who would’ve thought? We couldn’t have done this without the support from our loving customers and staff. Long may India Cottage continue serving the community.”

While the 40th anniversary was a family affair, the real celebration will take place on New Year’s Eve when customers will get the chance to celebrate in a party atmosphere.