Indian restaurant chain to serve up new North East venue

A fast-growing Indian restaurant chain has been named as the first new operator to take space at one of the North East's most exciting hospitality and leisure developments.

My Delhi has signed a lease for a 4,089sqft restaurant at Sunniside Social, a new hospitality and leisure hub which is being delivered as part of the regeneration of the Sunniside neighbourhood in Sunderland city centre.

The move is part of the restaurant chain's ambitious growth plans, which over the coming years will see it open several new restaurants across the UK.

It also coincides with the third anniversary of the group's first restaurant in the city, which opened in June 2022 and has since welcomed tens of thousands of people through its doors.

Elahi Shah Amin, Director at My Delhi Indian Streetery, said: "We're incredibly excited to be opening a new and improved venue at Sunniside Social in Sunderland city centre.

"Anyone who has been to one of our restaurants will know we take great pride in bringing the authentic tastes, sights and sounds of Delhi to our customers here in the UK, and this new venue will take that concept even further.

"We've been back to Delhi a couple of times recently, seeking inspiration for new experiential concepts which we can introduce to the new Sunderland site and then roll out across our existing and upcoming venues, and it's really got our creative juices flowing.

"We have some fantastic plans for making our restaurants even more experiential and more importantly, for some delicious new additions to our menus, which we're sure will be a huge hit and hopefully see us take home more National Curry Awards!"

In May 2025 Sunderland City Council unveiled plans to invest £1.9million in the transformation of the Sunniside Leisure complex.

The proposed upgrades include repairs to the Grade II listed building façade, streetscape improvements, new shop frontages and work to refurbish several leisure units.

A new brand, Sunniside Social, will also be adopted for the new leisure and hospitality hub, which upon completion, will house high quality new leisure and hospitality outlets. 

It was these proposed improvements, and the ongoing regeneration of the city centre which has seen billions of pounds invested over recent years, that inspired My Delhi to invest in the new venue.

"There's a renewed optimism about Sunderland at the moment and everybody is just so positive," Elahi said. "It's as if the whole city is behind the momentum, too. It's not just one anchor organisation, everyone is investing. The Council, football club, private investors, it's galvanised everyone and Sunniside Social will only build on that momentum.

"The plans for the development look absolutely stunning and with the ongoing investment in the new cinema, Sunderland AFC back in the Premier League and the new wear footbridge due to open this summer, it's exactly what Sunderland needs. It was a no brainer for us to be involved and we can't wait to be part of it."

The new My Delhi restaurant will be located on the ground floor of Sunniside Social, fronting onto the high street, and will include a private dining area for special functions.

Elahi added: "We opened our Leicester venue not long after the Sunderland restaurant and we are now looking to open a number of new venues across the UK as we seek to scale the business, but it's very much a case of watch this space and stay tuned for the other locations to be revealed."

Cllr Kevin Johnston, portfolio holder for housing, regeneration and business at Sunderland City Council, said: "We are thrilled that My Delhi is continuing to invest in the city.

"Sunniside Social is set to be one of the most highly anticipated hospitality and leisure destinations to open in the North East over the next couple of years and securing My Delhi as an anchor tenant is testament to that.

"It demonstrates the confidence the group has, not only in this development, but the wider city, and we are delighted that Elahi and the team will be an integral part of Sunderland's ongoing transformation."

Interested in finding out more about Sunniside Social? Contact sarah@atretail.co.uk or Mario@Lofthouseandpartners.co.uk.