Artist's images of India add to appeal of city restaurant

An international artist has brought a flavour of India to a restaurant in Bath.

Mike Choudhury has run the Eastern Eye in Bath for 24 years and recently revamped the restaurant in Quiet Street with the award-winning artist's help.

Mr Choudhury was on holiday in Dubai in 2004 when he met Apulpan Ditt and the two became friends.

Mr Ditt had always wanted to come to the UK and last year Mr Choudhury turned that dream into a reality by inviting his pal to help redesign the interior of his city centre restaurant.

The Eastern Eye has been serving customers in its present location for 12 years but its owner said the new images have changed the face of the business.

Mr Choudhury was keen to revamp the restaurant's three main walls to fit in with the grandeur of the Georgian building. He was impressed by Mr Ditt's artwork and asked him to create designs that would transform the Eastern Eye's look.

The restaurant remained open for business while the 42-year-old artist worked through the night for two months.

The finished designs cover three walls and feature images of a dancing girl in an Indian palace, the interior of the Mogul palace and night-time dancing.

Mr Choudhury said: "I asked my customers what they thought and everybody that sees it says it is out of this world."