The Royal Nawaab, a glittering blue pyramid on the edge of Stockport’s M60 ring road, opened its doors after a £15 million renovation and now serves roughly 2,000 customers each night. Owner Mahboob Hussain, a 71‑year‑old immigrant from Pakistan, describes the venue as a “destination” rather than a simple curry house.

£15 milllion makeover turns derelict office block into the world’s largest curry house

Constructed in 1992 as part of an abandoned “Valley of the Kings” project, the building sat empty for five years before Hussain bought it. The source reported that the site was essentially a shell, filled with broken office furniture and requiring 900 skips of waste to clear. Hussain poured £15 million into marble floors , chandeliers and a Dubai‑style fountain, creating a space comparable to a luxury hotel.

2,000 nighttly diners and 15,000 chillies: the scale of Royal Nawaab’s operation

The restaurant employs 200 staff, runs a “theatre kitchen” with over 30 chefs visible to diners, and supports another 65 chefs behind the scenes. According to the source, the buffet stretches 165 feet , offers about 180 dishes, and consumes 15,000 chillies each week. Service is unusually attentive, with one waiter for every two to three tables, far above the industry norm of one to six.

International buzz: visitors from Australia, Norway and a New York mayor’s interest

Word of the palace‑like buffet has traveled far. the source notes that a couple flew in from Australia and another party arrived from Norway after reading about the venue. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani even contacted Hussain, expressing a desire to try the chicken biryani on his next UK visit.

Mayor Andy Burnham’s silence amid local pride

Despite the global attention, the locally elected Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has not responded to multiple invitations from Hussain. The source quotes Hussain as saying, “It is disappointing. You’d think this is something Mr Burnham would be interested in,” highlighting a missed opportunity for regional endorsement.

What still isn’t clear about the restaurant’s future plans

While the ground floor hosts the all‑you‑can‑eat buffet, the upper levels can accommodate weddings for up to 1,200 guests and corporate events, and a cigar lounge is reportedly in the pipeline. However, the source does not confirm whether the cigar lounge will open or how the venue will adapt if demand fluctuates post‑pandemic. Additionally, the long‑term sustainability of consuming 15,000 chillies a week remains unverified.

As the source reported, the transformation occurred just after the Covid‑19 pandemic, a period when many hospitality businesses were struggling, making Hussain’s gamble appear especially bold.