A DALRY institution is undergoing a major expansion which the owning family hopes will help deliver the culinary delights for decades to come.

Zain’s Curry House has occupied a space on the village’s New Street for 20 years.

Now, as chef Abdul Jabbar hands the reigns to son Khurum, the family have undertaken the challenge of blending the wisdom of experience with the open-mindedness of youth.

Khurum told the Herald: “My dad has been my role model, not just about food but about life.

“My dad is old school but he is open minded and likes my ideas, and how the older generation run businesses, I’ve always followed that.”

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald: The outside of Zain's Curry House in Dalry.The outside of Zain's Curry House in Dalry.

His 51-year-old dad ran a small chip shop in the Bourtreehill neighbourhood of Irvine, since demolished to make way for flats. The chippy was quiet but busy enough to keep the family going.

When Abdul drove past the empty video-store in Dalry one day he noticed the ‘for sale’ sign and stopped.

After negotiations he bought the premises and together with a joiner he transformed the movie-rental shop into a curry house, tiling the floors himself.

For almost 20 years he worked seven days a week, Khurum said, but over the last few years he has been handing over the running of the business to his eldest son.

The 28-year-old recalls entering the business when he was just 11, watching his dad graft to make the Dalry takeaway a success.

He said: “My dad has always loved food, he cooks with passion.

“In the house we are always talking about food, talking about new inventions.”

Now Zain’s is set to reveal the renovation that is hoped will take it ‘to the next level’.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald: Khurum, his younger brother and their dad Abdul in the old shop.Khurum, his younger brother and their dad Abdul in the old shop.

Having taken over the former video store in 2000, the expansion has seen the Jabbar’s award-winning shop knock-through into the neighbouring property to create a ‘super-takeaway’.

Khurum said: “Everyone in Dalry is itching. They are always asking ‘when are you opening?”

Not only will the larger premises enable Zain’s to cater to a wider clientele, but it means it can house some exclusive new equipment.

The nature of the technology that Khurum has invested in is being kept under wraps until the grand opening, but he promises it will be worth the wait.

He said: “We’ve got a lot of stuff up our sleeves. It’s quite a big project, we want to be number one.”

Khurum is committed to being the best for customer service, and insuring they maintain the most important attribute of any takeaway – consistency.

He hopes to reopen Zain’s next week, with a special event to be confirmed.