Jaflong Crookes: Popular Sheffield restaurant under threat of eviction after 10 years

A well known Sheffield restaurant is under threat of eviction, nearly 25 years after it first opened.
David Kessen
By David Kessen
Published 19th Apr 2023, 09:49 GMT
Updated 19th Apr 2023, 10:19 GMT
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Jaflong, an Indian restaurant in Crookes, has been at its current site for 10 years, since moving there from a smaller building on Northfield Road, where the business originally started in 1998.

Jaflong stresses it is continuing to operate as a business, and if it has to move from its current site it will move to a nearby location.

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But its bosses are concerned that the business could be forced out of the building, which has previously been both a bookies and a video shop. It had been rented by Jaflong through a subletting agreement with Coral, who their lease was with. But Coral’s own lease on the building has now ended.

A well known Sheffield restaurant Jaflong, in Crookes, is under threat of eviction, nearly 25 years after it first opened. Owner Shabab Uddin is pictured outside the restaurantA well known Sheffield restaurant Jaflong, in Crookes, is under threat of eviction, nearly 25 years after it first opened. Owner Shabab Uddin is pictured outside the restaurant
A well known Sheffield restaurant Jaflong, in Crookes, is under threat of eviction, nearly 25 years after it first opened. Owner Shabab Uddin is pictured outside the restaurant

The building’s owner Motspa Holdings, wants the restaurant to leave, and lawyers are now involved in a battle to try to stay.

Jaflong owner Shahab Uddin said the restaurant was still continuing to operate as normal and he wanted to stay in the building where he has been trading for the last 10 years. But if he was forced out, he would try to find an alternative site in Crookes or within a couple of miles. He urged customers to support them.

He said: “Jaflong has been here in Crookes for 24 years.

“I don’t want to leave the premises – I want to stay here. My landlord won’t give me the lease, so it’s not my choice, so I’m looking for a place in Crookes or with a mile or two. Jaflong is going to continue in business. I’m saying to my customers, don’t worry, I’m still here.”

A well known Sheffield restaurant Jaflong, in Crookes, is under threat of eviction, nearly 25 years after it first opened. Owner Shabab Uddin is pictured inside the restaurantA well known Sheffield restaurant Jaflong, in Crookes, is under threat of eviction, nearly 25 years after it first opened. Owner Shabab Uddin is pictured inside the restaurant
A well known Sheffield restaurant Jaflong, in Crookes, is under threat of eviction, nearly 25 years after it first opened. Owner Shabab Uddin is pictured inside the restaurant

The lease finished this month.

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The company that owns the building, Motspa Holdings, says it has not had the keys to the building returned yet, and the dispute is between Coral and Jaflong.

A spokesman for Motspa said Coral’s lease had now ended, and therefore so had Jaflong’s lease, and that it had been known that this would happen for many years. He said the lease was due to drop back to Motspa, who plan to completely refurbish the building, although they have not yet been able to get in to do a complete survey.

Coral has been approached for comment.

Related topics:Sheffield