Fifteen jobs have been created at a Bradford ‘fusion’ restaurant which has used funding from the Council’s city centre growth zone scheme to expand.

The Lahore Cafe Bar Ltd, which trades as My Lahore, received a £149,189 grant from the £35 million growth zone initiative. The money has paid for refurbishment of My Lahore’s restaurant at 52 Great Horton Road which has expanded into the former La Romamtica Italian restaurant next door.

My Lahore has been running a restaurant, takeaway and delivery business at 52 and 485 Great Horton Road since 2002 employing 42 full and part-time staff on both its sites.

Following the extension and refurbishment work, the firm is expecting to create a further 15 jobs in the next few months. My Lahore, which serves a fusion of ‘East meets West’ food, made a successful application to the business rate rebate scheme last year. Seven jobs have already been created since October 2013.

Coun David Green, leader of Bradford Council, said: “This is a great example of how the City Centre Business Growth Scheme can give a step up to an already successful business to expand further and boost the local economy by creating jobs. I wish the Lahore Cafe Bar every success with their new larger premises.”

Ashghar Ali, My Lahore chief executive, said: “We are very grateful for the financial assistance provided by the council. It has allowed us the opportunity to expand and enhance our flagship restaurant to an extremely high standard, create more local jobs and further cement Bradford’s reputation of having some of the best restaurants in the north. We are regularly visited by customers from other cities.

“I would like to thank the council staff for their support through the application process and to urge other city centre businesses to take advantage of this scheme.”

  • A Saltaire-based cycle retailer which employs 25 staff has opened a new £1 million superstore at Wetherby.

The All Terrain Cycles 9,000 sq ft megastore stocks more than 1,000 mountain, road and BMX bikes as well as clothing and accessories.

The success of its retail outlet at Salts Mill and a growing online business enabled it to open its second store and become one of the largest cycle retailers in the North of England with a turnover of £3 million.

Tony Booth, managing director, said: “The timing couldn’t be better given the mounting excitement around the Tour de France Grand Depart. The combination of our Wetherby and Saltaire outlets will put us within reach of a huge number of customers.”