RESTAURANT owners Subhash and Geeta Kotecha could have experienced the culinary equivalent of taking coals to Newcastle by opening up a version of Spice Valley in Mumbai.

But they turned the offer down to concentrate on expanding their brand in the North-west.

They have spent more than £300,000 on opening a second Spice Valley restaurant in Horwich in a building which used to be home to Papa Luigi’s Italian eaterie.

They have also lured chef Kishan Kant Shah from the five star Jumeriah Beach Hotel in Dubai to cook across both restaurants.

The couple opened the original Spice Valley restaurant in 2003 and have followed the successful formula with their new outlet.

The Kotechas, who live in Worsley, have spent the money revamping the old Italian restaurant, creating the latest phase of their vision of what a good Indian restaurant should offer.

The couple’s successful business has brought them many offers to open up and run other restaurants both here and abroad —including one in Mumbai —but they don’t want to compromise on their vision.

Mrs Kotecha said: “We are moving our business on from the Bolton Spice Valley.

“We are creating our own brand here and we feel that we are quite fortunate with the quality of our dedicated staff.”

Across the two restaurants the couple now employ around 40 full and part-time staff.