A POPULAR Indian restaurant in Haslingden has plans to expand the business to cope with growing customer demand.

Anar Kali in Haslingden, which is housed in the Farmers Glory Pub in Roundhill Road, has submitted plans to Rossendale Council asking for permission to build a single storey extension at the side of the property to provide additional seating.

If the plans are approved, it would allow the restaurant to provide 32 extra covers.

The existing restaurant caters for 80 covers with accompanying bar, toilet and kitchen services.

The proposal outlines plans to extend the restaurant area by infilling the area to the right hand side of the building, but notes that no extension of kitchen, toilet or bar facilities is required.

Mohammed Abdulla, from the restaurant, said the expansion plans had been made because the restaurant is not big enough to cope with the numbers of customers coming through the doors.

He said: “It’s a successful business, it’s been doing very well over the past year.

“It’s a good business, most of the time we have to refuse customers because there are not enough tables, so we need to expand.” He said that the expansion was still in the planning stage and added: “We’ve just submitted plans, they’ve not yet been approved, and we’re not ready to build it.

“We’re still in the drawing up process.”

The restaurant is ranked number one in Haslingden on Trip Advisor, and it has used customer reviews to support its application.

In a design and access statement submitted to the council the applicant said: “The work will be done, to improve the dining experience established by allowing more time when dining.

“We will ensure that the extended restaurant maintains and improves on the standard set already by this establishment.”