Babul’s confirms Durham restaurant will open ‘this summer’

The restaurant, which has existing sites in Barnard Castle and Darlington, is taking over Unit 17 at The Riverwalk in Durham city centre, a space that has sat empty since plans for a Casa Peri Peri restaurant fell through in 2021.

Pictures of the site show the Babul’s branding already in place above the entrance at The Riverwalk, with window graphics advertising jobs for bartenders, hosts, servers, food runners and kitchen assistants.

A spokesperson said the process had started in January last year, with the deal to move in agreed earlier this year, before an extensive refit of the site was needed.

“It has been over a year in the making,” they said. “We are really excited that we have finally got there.”

The venue has been in the works since early 2025. (Image: BABUL’S)

Babul’s, which describes itself as ‘different to the usual curry house’, says it plans to develop a bespoke menu for the Durham venue once it has established which dishes prove most popular with local customers.

However, the spokesperson struck a cautious note about the wider trading environment facing smaller hospitality businesses.

“There are lots and lots of restaurants closing and it is very uncertain,” they said.

“We have to be optimistic, but we have to keep an eye on events around the world.

“It is very tricky for small businesses now.”

The restaurant previously applied for a licence to serve alcohol from 11am to midnight Monday to Thursday, and until 1am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with extended hours until 2am on special occasions including New Year’s Eve, Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and bank holiday weekends.