By John Connell

Last updated at 12:30, Monday, 26 March 2012

An award-winning Carlisle curry house has closed down after almost five years with everything up for sale.

Urvesh Bhagudia, right, at the Spice Enterprise

The Spice Enterprise on Briar Bank – once voted the best Indian restaurant in the north west – will be gutted this week and the fixtures, fittings and catering equipment are due to go under the hammer on Thursday.

Among the hundreds of items on sale are a dessert and ice cream counter freezer, a coffee machine with cup warmer and a tandoori oven.

Owner Urvesh Bhagudia was unavailable for comment but a woman speaking from his Vasey Crescent home, off Greystone Road, blamed the negative effect of coverage of an industrial tribunal last year.

Mr Bhagudia hit the headlines in December after two former employees claimed he owed them wages during an industrial tribunal.

The men had been working at The Outpost on Botchergate which was then run by him. Landlord Ian Brown, owner of The Cumberland Inn, also claimed he had asked Mr Bhagudia to leave the premises for non-payment of rent.

Mr Bhagudia developed his interest in Indian cuisine while growing up in Mumbai.

He completed a diploma in catering and hotel management in India, gaining experience at various hotels.

He came to UK in 2002 to join a restaurant chain and launched The Spice Enterprise in 2007.

The auction is being handled by Hopes of Wigton with viewings on Wednesday between 1pm and 6pm and on the day of the sale from 8am.

First published at 12:25, Monday, 26 March 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk