Newcastle celebrates six decades since The Rajah, its pioneering Indian restaurant, introduced curry to local diners in 1965.
Curry’s origin in Britain is linked to the British Empire. People brought the taste back from India, and London had curry places as early as the 1700s. Many curry restaurants opened in the 1960s and 1970s, coinciding with increased immigration from the Indian subcontinent.
Around 1960, Britain had about 300 Indian restaurants. Newcastle got its first Indian restaurant during that time, which offered a new taste to local diners. After the war, people wanted varied foods, exemplified by Newcastle’s first Chinese place opening in 1949 and a dozen more existing by the 1960s.
Newcastle’s first Italian place was Ristorante Roma, which opened in 1965. Pascal Fulgenzi ran it until 2008, and celebrities like Tom Jones frequented the restaurant.
The Rajah was Newcastle’s first Indian restaurant, starting on July 10, 1965, at 18 Cloth Market, in the old location of the Old Durham Hotel. An ad promised great food and atmosphere, and Rajab Ali, called Europe’s finest Indian chef, cooked Northern Indian curries.
They had chicken, lamb, beef, and fish curries, along with kebabs and biryani. Desserts included mangoes and lychees, making it different from typical desserts.
The Rajah seated 111 people, and the room had red lights and a fan on the wall. All staff were Indian, and a three-course meal cost 38p.
The Rajah was a pioneer 60 years ago, leading to the proliferation of Indian restaurants today. The Rajah’s old site is now empty, awaiting change.