Restaurant’s 50th Anniversary

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THE oldest Indian restaurant in the City of Southend, Taj Mahal in Leigh Road, Leigh is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

The restaurant first opened it’s doors in 1973. Noor Uddin, along with his brother, ran Taj Mahal as a family business. It was the very first Indian restaurant in Leigh. Now, 50 years on, and still located at it’s original address, 77 Leigh Road, Taj Mahal is the oldest established Indian restaurant in the area.

Beginning with the two eldest of Mr Uddin’s five boys, who became involved in running Taj Mahal in the late eighties, all have been involved in running the business. Currently the youngest two are taking the legacy forward day to day.

Over the years the older family members have passed on their wisdom in creating authentic, flavoursome food to the younger generations.

Mr Uddin’s sons have inherited their father’s passion and drive and have been keen to give the restaurant a brand new modern look with warm, rich, comfortable surroundings. Over the years, new innovative ideas that enhance their customers culinary experience have been introduced, building on the authenticity of the family’s roots.

All businesses have their moments of triumph and periods of struggle and the story of Leigh’s Taj Mahal includes both. Particularly during the recent pandemic, Taj Mahal, along with all the sector’s businesses, faced difficulties.

The Uddin family closed the restaurant’s doors at the start of the pandemic, adopting instead a simple takeaway service, in order to keep the business going and its loyal customers fed.

Later, as other restaurants began to reopen, the Uddin family chose to remain closed for dining in. This was a difficult, but deliberate choice.

The younger members of the family were determined to do all they could to protect the older members of the family and their customers, many of whom had been visiting the restaurant regularly for decades.

Long after other establishments in the sector had fully reopened, Taj Mahal maintained its takeaway only service. Only when the family felt that the Covid threat had truly passed, did they decide to begin welcoming customers to dine inside the restaurant again. During the period of Covid the family took the opportunity to give Taj Mahal a fresh new, more welcoming look.

Now, as they celebrate the restaurant’s 50th anniversary the family is also celebrating the fact that they are fully back and providing customers with the wonderfully memorable experience that Taj Mahal in Leigh Road has always been known for.

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THE oldest Indian restaurant in the City of Southend, Taj Mahal in Leigh Road, Leigh is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

THE oldest Indian restaurant in the City of Southend, Taj Mahal in Leigh Road, Leigh is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

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