Tragedy As Mahal Set To Close

Student haunt The Mahal could be shutting down, The Tab can exclusively reveal.

The manager told The Tab that the current owner is looking to sell the Bombay Brasserie.

More commonly known as the Mahal, the favourite haunt for swaps has been sustaining consistent losses since the restaurant was bought last year.

In fact all previous prospective curry magnates have tried to get rid of the eatery soon after buying it because they cannot make a profit.

There have been four owners over the past decade.

The manager said: “The problem is the rent is too high, £60,000 a year, and the owner isn’t breaking even.”

Salik & co. estate agents have listed the property as available for sale or rental.

The Mahal is a favourite of drinking societies and rowdy students because it is common knowledge that is one of the few places in Cambridge where “ANYTHING GOES”.

The manager revealed: “We can make eight or nine grand a week during term time but we don’t make anything like that in the holidays.”

The manager also said that locals now avoid the restaurant because they don’t enjoy having to listen to the students’ bad behaviour.

The Tab has reported on the numerous incidences of violence and rowdiness in the Mahal this term.

Two weeks ago, the Kings, Corpus and Clare rugby team were banned following what one reveller described as “a quiet night”.

The manager said that students are consistently polite until they have had a drink and then they “ turn into children”

“The damage to the restaurant each term also costs the owner a lot of money.”

The manager said he hoped that the Mahal would continue to offer the same service even with a new owner but he suggested that it would be unlikely for swaps to be allowed at the venue.”

He wants to emulate the next-door noodle restaurant Dojo’s: “They are always full at lunch with people going there in between lectures.”

He added: “We want to speed up our kitchen and change our menu to tap into that market.”

The manager is not in control of who buys the restaurant and if they are not “curry people” then that will be the end of curry altogether at the Mahal.

One drinking society President, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “It’s basically the end of our society. We go there pretty much every week. Nowhere else would put up with us for swaps because we’re really laddy and pretty lairy. You know, quite banterous.”

If the sale goes through the student body will have to find somewhere else to frequent.

Let’s just hope it’s not the other ‘regal’ curry house.