Plans to build an extension at the back of the former Ali Raj restaurant on Cheltenham Crescent have been approved by Harrogate Borough Council.
The plans were submitted by the owners of the building, who also own the pub downstairs, The Little Ale House.
Richard Park and his wife Danni opened The Little Ale House in 2016 to recreate a rustic country pub atmosphere in the town centre.
The Ali Raj was a longstanding Indian and Bangladeshi restaurant in Harrogate that closed in 2021. It was the first Bangladeshi restaurant in town when it opened more than 35 years ago.
A change of use application was approved in February to turn the restaurant into a bar.
The latest plans will create improved back-of-house and toilet facilities and a roof terrace to increase seating capacity.
Mr Park told the Stray Ferret that building work is set to begin next summer when he will say which business will use the space.
He stressed the new venue will not be an extension of the Little Ale House, which will remain a separate business downstairs.
A CGI image of how the extension will look
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Longstanding Harrogate restaurant set to make way for pub
A longstanding Indian and Bangladeshi restaurant in Harrogate has closed and could be converted into a pub.
The Ali Raj, on Cheltenham Crescent, was the first Bangladeshi restaurant in town when it opened more than 35 years ago.
After a couple of tough years for the hospitality industry, restaurant owner Abdul Rashid, who took over the business from its original owners, decided to close.
Mr Rashid announced the news on the Ali Raj Facebook page, saying it was the “end of an era”.
The Stray Ferret tried to contact Mr Rashid for comment but did not receive a reply by the time of publication.
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Richard Park, owner of The Little Ale House, which is situated beneath the Ali Raj, has applied to Harrogate Borough Council to change the use of the building from restaurant to pub on both the first and second floors of the building.
Mr Park and his wife Danni opened The Little Ale House in 2016 to recreate a rustic country pub atmosphere in the town centre.
They have been keen to support micro breweries and encourage conversation by shunning TVs and background music.