Star Anise Brings Indian and Bangladeshi Flavours to Carlisle's Devonshire Street
Star Anise opens its first Carlisle branch on Devonshire Street, serving Indian, Bangladeshi and Western dishes with cocktails. Read the full story here.
Prajakta Sanjay Warwadkar 
CARLISLE, December 8, 2025 — A well-regarded Indian and Bangladeshi restaurant from the Cumbrian market town of Brampton has brought its food to the heart of Carlisle, opening a brand-new branch at 10 Devonshire Street on December 8, 2025. Star Anise, which built a loyal following at its original Main Street venue in Brampton, now serves the city's diners with a full menu of Indian and Bangladeshi dishes, a new English and Western lunch menu, and a fresh cocktail and mocktail selection.
The Carlisle opening marks a significant step forward for the brand, moving from a smaller market town setting into one of Cumbria's busiest city centres at a time when Devonshire Street is drawing increasing attention as a destination for independent hospitality businesses.
A Menu That Goes Beyond the Curry House Stereotype
The Star Anise has never positioned itself as a straightforward curry house, and the Carlisle branch makes that clear from the off. The kitchen turns out aromatic curries and classic Bengali dishes that form the backbone of the menu, but the team has used the new venue as an opportunity to widen the offer considerably.
The addition of an English and Western lunch menu gives the restaurant a foothold in the daytime trade, something the Brampton venue was not built around. Alongside that, a new cocktail and mocktail list adds a dimension to the drinks offer that reflects the changing expectations of city-centre diners, many of whom now expect a restaurant to do more than just serve food with a standard wine list.
It is a smart move. Carlisle's dining scene has been evolving, and the Star Anise is arriving with a format that acknowledges that shift without abandoning what made the brand popular in the first place.
The People Behind the Restaurant
The Star Anise is owned by Aida Dainyte and head chef Abul Kalam, with Kamrul Islam Manna serving as manager of the Carlisle branch. The three of them have been the driving force behind getting this location ready for customers, and it has clearly been a project that has demanded a lot from everyone involved.
Islam Manna described the build-up to opening day as a period of intensive work, with the ownership and management team putting in long hours to make sure the experience would meet the standard they had set for themselves. There is a genuine sense, in the way the team talks about this opening, that it matters personally to them, not just commercially.
Chef Kalam's connection to Carlisle adds another layer to the story. He has worked in the city before, built relationships here, and developed a reputation in the local food community over a number of years. His return to Carlisle as the head chef of a venue he co-owns is a different kind of homecoming, and one the team is clearly proud of.
Devonshire Street Is the Right Location at the Right Time
The choice of Devonshire Street is not accidental. The street has been the subject of significant regeneration work by Cumberland Council, with a major infrastructure and pedestrianisation project completed in 2024 that has changed the character of the area and made it more attractive to independent businesses.
Early in 2026, local business commentators identified the street as strengthening its identity as a hub for independent food and drink operators, with Star Anise named specifically as one of the arrivals contributing to that shift. The restaurant sits in a neighbourhood that already has a handful of interesting independent venues nearby, and the Star Anise adds further weight to the case for Devonshire Street as a destination rather than just a thoroughfare.
Brampton Venue Continues to Trade Alongside Carlisle Branch
The original Star Anise on Main Street in Brampton remains open and operating independently. The Brampton restaurant is where the brand built its name and its customer base, and the team has been clear that the Carlisle opening is an expansion rather than a move. Both venues will run their own kitchens and service, with chef Kalam's cooking philosophy shared across both locations.
No seating capacity, investment figure or pricing details were published in connection with the Carlisle opening.
More information about Indian cuisine and its regional diversity can be explored through Indian cuisine history and traditions.
Businesses monitoring hospitality expansion trends can also explore restaurant industry growth trends for 2026 to understand how regional food concepts are shaping dining markets.
