Newton Abbot’s popular Eastern Eye restaurant is celebrating 30 years in the town.

A contemporary Indian restaurant, the Eastern Eye has a proud tradition of bringing together authentic flavours with world class presentation and a high level of customer service.

‘It has been a dream come true to reach 30 years at the Eastern Eye,’ says the owner, popularly known as Mr Ali.

The Eastern Eye has received recognition in the British Curry Awards, twice finishing second in the South West, competing against thousands of restaurants.

Celebrities too have enjoyed their dishes from politician Nick Clegg to the mighty Exeter Chiefs and Torquay United enjoying private events at the reataurant.

From humble beginnings, he says: ‘I started the Newton Abbot Eastern Eye in 1990, having originally arrived in the UK from Bangladesh in 1983.

‘I previously worked in Birmingham, London, Exeter, Plymouth and actually moved down to Devon from Burnley in Lancashire.

‘I was always working in the restaurant industry, anything from kitchen porter to chef, and it has been a pleasure to grow my own business.

‘If I think back to 1990, the Eastern Eye was a very different place when we enjoyed the grand opening with the Newton Abbot mayor 30 years ago.

‘We started as a very small restaurant, offering a takeaway service and room for 48 diners, before we added an extension that increased space for 70 people.

‘As time went by, we werefortunate enough to purchase the unit next door, which was originally a recruitment agency, followed by the third unit in this row, previously anestate agents.

‘This has now taken us to space for 150 diners.

‘We are very proud to be an integral part of local life in Newton Abbot,’ said Mr Ali.

‘We have a large group of loyal customers.

‘It is that overall experience we have worked so hard to develop at the Eastern Eye.’