Major Revamp Rings in Changes at Much-Loved Shifnal Restaurant

A much-loved Nepalese restaurant in the centre of Shifnal is reopening after a four-week closure and a £145,000 refurbishment.

The investment in The Bell on Church Street has transformed it into a family-friendly bar, grill and restaurant serving Indian and Nepalese cuisine, complete with a stunning revamped courtyard patio and multiple screens – including one outdoors – in time for the World Cup.

The makeover has been carried out by HEINEKEN-owned Star Pubs and The Bell's operators, Indra Pathak – who is originally from Nepal – and Lil Khatri, a chef with three decades of international experience. The pair, who also run a pub in Wednesbury, took over The Bell in 2022 when it was rundown and little used, and have since put it back on the map as a popular dining destination. Now, to mark their fourth anniversary at the helm, they are broadening the venue's appeal and setting it up to thrive for the long term.

The top-to-bottom refurbishment has transformed the exterior of The Bell, repainting the building in grey and white and adding new signage and lighting, enhancing the centre of Shifnal. The rear courtyard has been turned into one of the town's best alfresco spaces, featuring stylish furniture, new planting, festoon lighting and a heated pergola with a retractable roof for year-round use. Opening directly off the bar, the secluded courtyard will seamlessly extend the indoor space on warmer days.

Inside, a stylish redesign has modernised the venue throughout, creating a more comfortable and contemporary feel. The colourful décor includes brand-new furniture, soft furnishings and carpets, alongside restored timber floors. Decorative floor tiles, feature wallpaper and carefully chosen fabrics complete the look. Designed to cater for the whole community, The Bell now offers a spacious bar for drinks and socialising, plenty of dining space and a high-spec AV system with Sky Sports. Supporting its new direction as a bar and restaurant, the cellar has also been refurbished with a state-of-the-art dispense system to ensure consistently perfect pints, alongside an expanded range of beers.

An extended menu complements The Bell's new direction, featuring Nepalese and Indian curries, mixed grills and children's options.

When Indra and Lil first took over The Bell, it was intended as a temporary arrangement to help prevent the pub from closing while a new operator was found. Four years later, they are still there and have just signed a new five-year lease.

Indra explains: "When we started out, we thought we'd only be here for a couple of months. But people were so friendly and gave us such a warm welcome that we fell in love with The Bell and couldn't bring ourselves to leave. Shifnal is a wonderful town with a real sense of community. We feel incredibly fortunate to have made our home here and to be able to invest in taking The Bell to the next level. We couldn't have done it without the support of local residents."

Star Pubs Investment Manager Lee Dishington adds: "We're delighted to be backing Indra and Lil's exciting plans for The Bell. It already has a reputation for superb food, and with a beautiful courtyard garden and a fantastic bar where residents can meet, it will have even more to offer the town. We've been working flat out to reopen in time for the World Cup, and The Bell will be a great place for people to come together and enjoy the action."