The long-term future of one of London’s most distinctive Indian restaurants has been secured after restructuring firm Coots & Boots concluded a successful turnaround deal for Pahli Hill Bandra Bhai.
Appointed on 9 October 2025, Joint Administrators Duncan Coutts and Rupen Patel implemented urgent measures to stabilise the business, preserve employment, and ensure customers continued to be served without disruption. By working collaboratively with management and new investors, they delivered an efficient sale that safeguarded the restaurant’s heritage and its acclaimed culinary identity.
The address at 79–81 Mortimer Street has been a landmark for Indian cuisine in London for decades. Originally The Gaylord, it became one of the city’s pioneering Indian restaurants in the 1960s, introducing the flavours of the subcontinent to a new audience and welcoming stars from both film and theatre through its doors.
Pahli Hill Bandra Bhai honoured this extraordinary past while developing a contemporary culinary perspective. The restaurant showcases home-style dishes influenced by regions across India, harmonised with seasonal British ingredients. The dining space upstairs offers a convivial, sharing-led atmosphere, while the Bandra Bhai bar below evokes the mood of a secret 1970s Mumbai social club, intimate and richly styled.
Their efforts earned the team a Michelin Bib Gourmand, confirming the restaurant’s ability to bridge heritage and modern dining culture.
With financial strain escalating amid broader challenges across the UK hospitality industry, Coots & Boots oversaw a careful restructuring to protect the restaurant’s staff, continuity, and identity. Service continued as normal throughout, and the eventual sale ensures the business remains in hands committed to its ethos.
“Our goal was simple – protect what makes Pahli Hill Bandra Bhai special: its people, its heritage, and its spirit,” said Duncan Coutts, Joint Administrator. “We’re proud to have guided a rescue that keeps a London institution thriving under new ownership.”
Looking ahead, Pahli Hill Bandra Bhai will continue to operate from its Fitzrovia home with its recognised team and menu. Refreshed plans for Bandra Bhai, including new seasonal creations, guest chef events, and live music, mark the beginning of an exciting evolution. The intervention by Coots & Boots not only secured a renowned destination, but highlighted the firm’s ability to turn financial challenge into renewed opportunity.
About Coots & Boots
Coots & Boots is a new breed of restructuring firm – boutique in scale, bold in approach. Founded by industry veterans Duncan Coutts and Rupen Patel, the firm blends financial precision with creative problem-solving to help businesses in distress recover, rebuild, and relaunch stronger. From heritage restaurants to cutting-edge brands, Coots & Boots is redefining what business rescue looks like in the modern economy.
