‘We’re walking away proud’
Rola Wala first opened its doors almost 18 months ago – but is now closing down later this week(Image: Manchester Evening News)
The owners of a restaurant and take-away in Deansgate have announced they will be closing down later this week after nearly 18 months.
First opened in November 2023, Rola Wala arrived in the city with its footlong naan rolls filled with fresh flavours inspired by Indian street food delights, like butter chicken, pulled lamb and sweet potato saag.
The Deansgate restaurant was the first Rola Wala site outside of Leeds, with the flagship store there first opening in 2016. The business was founded by entrepreneur Mark Wright, with things originally starting as a street food stall in London.
In a post on social media, Mark and the team announced the Manchester store would be closing its doors on Friday (June 27).
The statement said: “After 18 months, we’re saying goodbye to our Manchester restaurant. It’s not the end of Rola Wala – but it is the end of an era. We’re walking away proud – and walking towards something new.”
Further explaining how the restaurant’s location had ‘sat between two worlds – office lunch and late-night crowds’, they had been required to adapt to both audiences and that would have required ‘changing who we are and that didn’t feel right’.
The Indian street food spot was the home of the footlong naan roll(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Mark said all staff will be paid through to the end of their final shift, with holiday time also given. He said that the restaurant will return to the city, teasing: “Manchester, we’ll be back – with even more fire.”
When the Deansgate venue first opened, it was met with huge queues as people camped out in the pouring rain to be amongst the first to try its naan rolls and rice bowls – and gave out plenty of free meals to mark its first day open.
Rola Wala was also hailed as a favourite amongst the likes of Rita Ora, Jamie Oliver and the Saturday Kitchen team, and it was also featured in Hollywood movie Burnt, starring Bradley Cooper.
The owners behind the restaurant said its closure was the ‘end of an era'(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
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The Manchester store will close at 11pm on Friday (June 27), with the site then being ‘handed over to a brilliant new concept’. The original Leeds Trinity Way venue will continue to trade as usual.
The news was understandably met with a mixture of sadness and support for the future. One customer posted: “Sorry to hear Mark! You will be missed!” One other wrote: “Gutted to hear this.”
The original Leeds store will continue as usual(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Another said: “I traveled from places all around the UK to Manchester just for this! But I’m so sure the new venture would be equally good! Best wishes and pleasant memories, after the most challenging exams of my life, Rola has always been a constant.”
One other shared their sadness by commenting: “Nooooo. I only got to try recently. Devastated as it was so good.” Another said: “Good luck for the future and best wishes to the staff. I really enjoyed the food and the service here!”