‘We create social cohesion’: the rise of the West Midlands’ Desi pubs

The Royal Oak in West Bromwich, which mixes south Asian cuisine and culture with the typically British institution of the pub. Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian

A tantalising spread of food arrives at the table, including a sizzling mixed grill platter, blistered naans and punchy curries. The smell of spice and smoke fills the air amid a cacophony of sounds, from the clink of pint glasses to the beats of Punjabi bhangra music.

This is a scene that you might not associate with the traditional British pub, but for many communities in the Midlands it is commonplace in the growing number of Desi pubs.