Vama to close and relocate to London's West End

Indian restaurant Vama in Chelsea will close tomorrow before relocating to a new site in London's West End later this year, owner V8 Gourmet has announced.​

V8 Gourmet managing director Arjun Varma, said the restaurant had outgrown its space and would be better suited in central London, although it is not known where in the West End the new restaurant will be.

“In order for Vama to be able to meet client demand and with new developments in our business we have had to seek larger premises for the existing Vama restaurant. We have therefore decided that Vama be moved to a new high profile West End location," he said.

The Kings Road restaurant site will be retained by V8 Gourmet and will be converted into the group's latest Bombay Bicycle Club restaurant and delivery kitchen, to open on 10 February.

Vama was opened in 1997 by Varma and his brother, chef Andy Varma.  The pair, who also own Tiffinbites, sold a 33 per cent stake in the business to actress Shilpa Shetty last year.

Last week the chain announced it would be opening eight new Bombay Bicycle sites in London by the beginning of March. One is the converted Vama site in Chelsea and the other seven are takeaways, which the group terms 'delivery kitchens'.