One of Norwich's favourite curry houses is fighting to keep a series of changes to a historic building after discovering they did not have all the necessary permissions.

Namaste Village in Queens Road has been told it needs 'listed building consent' for changes made to turn part of the premises into a hotel. 

The building, which was built in 1887 as a Methodist Sunday School, is Grade II listed, meaning extra permissions are required.

It has previously been used as a carpet warehouse, gym, and office.

Changes include a partition running the length of the building's mezzanine level, which was installed to screen rooms from the restaurant below, and the removal of a staircase.

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Some of the changes appear to have been made before Namaste took over the site.

A statement submitted to Norwich City Council said: “Some unauthorised works may have been undertaken between 2004 and 2016 when the applicant took possession, and some unauthorised works have since been undertaken under the mistaken belief that only the gallery and roof light were of significance and protected.” 

The report described much of the work as "reversible", however, it was accepted that removing the staircase and some walls could have had a "negative impact on the historic fabric and interest of the building".

Namaste Village was recently named the vegetarian restaurant of the year at The Nation's Curry Awards 2023 and is run by Ketan Vaghasiya and brothers Dalsukh Jetani and Vijay Jetani.

Norwich Evening News: Vijay Jetani, business director and owner of Namaste Village Indian restarant on Queens Road, Norwich, with his wife Urmila Jetani. Picture: Vijay JetaniVijay Jetani, business director and owner of Namaste Village Indian restarant on Queens Road, Norwich, with his wife Urmila Jetani. Picture: Vijay Jetani (Image: Vijay Jetani)

Mr Vijay Jetani said: "It was a rotten building when we took it over. 

“I think the city council officers were happy to see that it is in a better condition now than when we took it over. It had water falling down, the roof leaked, and there was dust and rust everywhere. 

“We have tried to improve the building. It’s all cosmetic work so we hope we don’t have to reverse anything."