Fans of Mogal-E-Azam are shocked by the news that the restaurant has been boarded up - and hope that the star-studded walls will be safe. The restaurant opened its doors in the 1970s, making it one of Nottingham's oldest Indian restaurants.
The proximity to the Theatre Royal, the Royal Concert Hall and Rock City meant is has long been a favourite with curry-loving celebrities, who happily autographed photographs which are displayed all over the restaurant.
David Hasselhoff, aka The Hoff, Billy Connolly, Howard Keel, David Essex, Sir Tom Jones and Whitesnake are amongst the many famous faces who've eaten there. The first celebrity to step through the door of the family-run restaurant was Barbara Windsor.
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The restaurant in Goldsmith Street entered voluntary liquidation. Signs on the boarded-up door and windows say it is under new ownership. No official announcement has been made by the owners, past or present, and it's unclear whether the restaurant will remain known as Mogal-E-Azam, or whether it will even continue to be an Indian restaurant.
The restaurant was very traditional in its decor and the owners resisted succumbing to a contemporary makeover to compete with newer curry houses. Other faces on the walls include Blondie, Christopher Biggins, Frank Bruno, and a young Maureen Lipman, who signed her photo saying: "Thanks for the delicious food, lovely ambience and excellent service. I'll call again."
Sujat Sheikh, who opened the restaurant in 1977, claimed to have invented chicken tikka masala at the restaurant, which was one of the first in the UK to use a tandoor oven.
Reacting to the news of the closure on Nottinghamshire Live's Facebook page, Andy Bullock said: "I hope the faded, autographed photos of the various celebrities to have eaten there over the decades are safe. The wall they were stuck on should have been listed!"
Amy Victoria Gathercole agreed: "Always been a favourite of mine. Hope the new owners don't change the charm of the place or remove the autographs of everyone they have collected over the years."
For many it was their first experience of an Indian restaurant. Stuart Housley said: "Very first curry house I ever went in, has to be 30 years ago. Been many times. Shame to see it closed down."
Mark Cooper said: "Like many others this was the first Indian restaurant I went in back in the late 70s. As newbies we asked the waiter what he would recommend. We had a lamb rogan josh and a lamb bhuna with pilau rice and a peshwari naan... superb.."
Many are gutted to see it currently closed. Michaela Fixter commented: "Absolutely loved going there, lovely family that ran it and it seems to have been there forever." Andy Bullimore posted: "How very sad, I've had some great nights there."
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