Iconic Birmingham restaurant Itihaas on the market after 21 award-winning years
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has been instructed to market the celebrated fine-dining Indian restaurant Itihaas, in central Birmingham.
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After more than 21 years at the forefront of Birmingham’s hospitality scene, award‑winning restaurateur and executive chef Raj Rana has placed his acclaimed restaurant Itihaas on the market.
Having opened its doors in January 2005, Itihaas quickly established itself as one of the Midlands’ most distinctive dining destinations. Over the years, Itihaas has played host to numerous high‑profile television productions, including filming with broadcaster Michael Portillo for his railway documentary series, appearances on Brides on a Bus, and several days of filming with renowned chef Michel Roux Jr for the BBC programme Service.
Just one year after opening, Raj Rana was named Newcomer of the Year for Ethnic Food and Drink at the Best in Britain Awards 2005. In 2006, Itihaas was awarded Best Newcomer in the West Midlands at the British Curry Awards, and in 2007, the restaurant achieved national recognition when it was crowned Best UK Restaurant, marking the first time in 14 years that the award had been given to a restaurant outside of London.
Prior to launching Itihaas, Raj had no previous experience as a restaurateur. Determined to create something unique, he designed the restaurant as a tribute to India’s heritage. The venue was modelled on an Indian museum, with artefacts sourced by Raj from Jaipur and Rajasthan. The concept transports diners through different eras of India’s history while enjoying authentic Indian cuisine presented with a fine‑dining philosophy.
Raj’s contribution to the hospitality industry was recognised nationally when he was invited to a Buckingham Palace reception hosted by Her Majesty the Queen in 2008. In 2016, Raj founded the charitable initiative Let’s Feed Brum, which provides meals to Birmingham’s homeless community.
Located in the heart of Birmingham city centre, Itihaas has a well-established reputation and attracts a loyal customer base, making it a highly attractive opportunity for a wide range of operators. The opportunity is being offered either as a freehold sale or as a leasehold opportunity for an operator wishing to continue the restaurant’s extraordinary legacy.
Raj is preparing to channel his extensive hospitality experience into an ambitious new hotel venture in his home county of Worcestershire. Drawing on over two decades of success as a restaurateur and caterer, Raj plans to launch a new hotel operation featuring an on-site restaurant and dedicated wedding and banqueting facilities. He intends to bring with him his trusted team of chefs and management to deliver the same standards of excellence that defined Itihaas, with further details of the location to be announced in due course.
Founder and Executive Chef Raj Rana commented, “After 21 incredible years, Itihaas has been one of the greatest journeys of my life. I will be sad to close this chapter at this location but at the same time excited about the new journey ahead. My team and I are preparing for the next stage of our hospitality journey as we move into a new hotel venture with a restaurant and wedding banqueting operation.
“I will be sad to see the end of Itihaas at this location, but at the same time I am excited about the new journey ahead. Running a hotel with an on-site restaurant and wedding banqueting operation is a significant undertaking, but my team and I have been preparing for this transition for some time. We are highly motivated and excited about the next chapter for the Itihaas family.
“The sale of Itihaas presents a rare opportunity for an experienced hospitality operator or investor to acquire one of Birmingham’s most recognisable restaurant brands with a strong reputation, established customer base and more than two decades of heritage.”
The sale process is being managed by James Dodd and Jonty Green at Christie & Co, who add, “Itihaas is one of Birmingham’s most recognisable and longest standing Indian dining institutions, and it is a privilege for us to be appointed to bring such a distinguished business to market. With more than two decades of awards, heritage and loyal patronage, opportunities of this calibre rarely become available.
“The restaurant’s strong trading performance, beautifully presented interiors, and established reputation make it an appealing proposition for a wide range of operators, whether an experienced restaurateur looking to build upon a well-loved brand, or an investor seeking a high quality, fully-fitted hospitality venue. We expect interest from parties who appreciate both the legacy and the significant potential that Itihaas offers for the future.”
Itihaas is on the market with an asking price of £1,250,000 for the virtual freehold, with offers also being invited for the leasehold.
For more information about this property, click here: https://www.christie.com/5862774/
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