An historic city centre hotel is expected to reopen as an East-meets-West caf bar and restaurant as part of a new city centre shopping scheme.

The 131-year-old Rawson Hotel, which has stood empty for years, would be restored by a major company and sell a mix of Asian and English food.

Customers would probably drink Indian beer and English wine in one of the first eating places of its type in Bradford.

The elaborate Victorian building was part of the former main Rawson Market complex. Because it is listed it remained standing when the rest of the building was demolished.

It was designed by the Bradford architects Lockwood Mawson, who also designed St George's Hall, and it opened in 1871.

In 1899 it was extended by local architects Hope and Jardine and has been recognised by English Heritage for its five-storey circular tower and the contribution it makes to the cityscape.

But now it will move into the 21st Century as part of a new shopping complex with ten shops, a glazed colonnade to a food and drink pavilion and two public squares.

The development - called the Rawson Quarter - would be on the site of the former Rawson Market Hall.

Stephen McManus, director of developers Chartback, said: "We have an agreement in place to lease the Rawson Hotel to a substantial licensed operator.

"The premises would specialise in Anglo and Indian cuisine and the operation will be tailor made for the new development."

Work on the shopping centre was originally scheduled to begin next month but has been delayed until January, after The Designer Company, which had agreed terms on a department store in the £6 million development, went into voluntary administration.

But Mr McManus said Chartback was now in detailed talks with four other companies interested in taking the space for discount shops with a range of different products.

He said: "That is the only tenant we now need before work starts on the development."

John Pennington, president of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said: "The Rawson Hotel is a beautiful building and should be in use."