One of Weymouth's longest standing and most loved restaurants has been transformed.

A team of local builders, designers and tradesmen have been working day and night on Shalim's Indian Restaurant to revamp the venue without disturbing its diners.

Their hard work has paid off with a new look to the eatery, achieved with minimal disruption to service and only one day's closure throughout the process.

The restaurant owner, Shalim Abdul, said: "Over the year the restaurant has undergone many changes to keep up to date with the latest trends and fashions in the industry.

"I wanted to give the restaurant a more sophisticated and modern feel that airs towards fine dining and is a reflection of what the Indian restaurants in the big cities are doing. We have expanded the kitchen, changed the seating areas and replaced the bar, making the whole dining experience a more intimate, exclusive, metropolitan affair.”

The recent refurbishment is the first phase of an exciting future expansion that is being planned behind the scenes. The restaurant, on Commercial Road in Weymouth, first opened its doors in 1996 as The Balti House Indian Restaurant. The business, originally run by Shalim's father, grew from strength to strength and in 2000, Shalim took over the restaurant himself.

To continue the family tradition, Shalim's eldest son, Omar, is now working with him in the restaurants at weekends.

The restaurant has been a backbone of Indian cuisine in Weymouth for the last 20 years, setting a high standard for food and ambience in the town and priding itself on its delicious cuisine, highly experienced waiting staff and classically trained chefs. Shalim's Indian Restaurant has also won countless local and national awards since its opening, and has gained recognition five times at the British Curry Awards.