First revealed via an Instagram post in September last year and later reported by local media, the project will be located in the former site of Indian restaurant The Mint Room in Clifton, one of Bristol’s most upmarket areas.
Speaking to Restaurant ahead of the launch of his debut London restaurant, Oudh 1722, Islam said he is searching for someone to run the Clifton Road restaurant on his behalf.
“I’m still not 100% sure when I’m going to open Kush,” Islam says. “I’m looking to invest in some talented young people in Bristol. Sadly, the original group I was going to invest in didn’t work out because they weren’t able to deliver on their part. When I find the right people, I will work with them to create something special.”
The visual identity of the restaurant has already been established, but the specifics of the concept will be shaped by the team that joins him.
However, it is understood to be a more casual venture than Islam’s Birmingham flagship Opheem and Oudh 1722.
“Kush means happiness in Hindi and Urdu,” Islam explains. “The offer will reflect the personalities of the people behind it but will definitely be in line with the youthful spirit of Bristol.”
The site has reportedly been completely refitted to a high standard and is ready to trade. The Mint Room closed in 2024 after ten years in business.
Launched in 2018, Opheem is one of only two Indian restaurants in the UK to hold two Michelin stars.
His London restaurant, Oudh 1722, is anticipated to open next month.
Located near Borough Market, it will focus on Awadhi cuisine, a historic style shaped in the royal courts of northern India.
Islam will present his interpretation of Awadhi cooking, which originated in Lucknow, long regarded as one of India’s great culinary centres and recognised by UNESCO as a Creative City of Gastronomy.
A full interview with Aktar Islam will be published next month