We have gone from tattoos to vindaloos

By Safira Ali

Last updated 15:52, Thursday, 21 August 2008

WORKINGTON’S newest Indian restaurant and bar will be opening in six weeks.

Open soon: Faz’s in Wilson Street

Faz’s, in Wilson Street, was formerly a tattoo parlour. The property was on Allerdale Council’s hit-list of dilapidated properties last year that needed to be refurbished.

Karl’s Tattoo Studio transferred across the road when the restaurant was given the go-ahead.

Stephen and Amanda Oakes, who operate a drainage business from Winscales, originally wanted to turn the building into an Italian restaurant.

The application was submitted in March 2007.

But it was later taken over by Faz Rahman, owner of the Taste of India, in Cockermouth, who has transformed it into an Indian restaurant and bar.

It will include a 52-seat restaurant, a bar and a mezzanine balcony where customers will be able to relax on couches and read their newspapers.

The new restaurant will be on three floors and will have disabled access.

Mr Rahman said: “We want to offer something high end in Workington.

“We are hoping it will be a modern contemporary bar and restaurant.

“It is in a good location, and right on the circuit close to other bars. We have retained the old features and its character.

Allerdale Council revealed a list of 20 dilapidated properties it wanted to turn from eyesores to assets in 2006. Owners of the eyesores, which had been in a state of neglect for years, were asked when things were going to be cleaned up.

The council said it wanted to tackle the properties to improve life for people living nearby.

The Housing Services team of Allerdale Council were involved in long-term empty and dilapidated properties for more than 10 years to encourage, persuade and occasionally force owners to deal with the problems they cause to the neighbourhood.