Kuti’s Brasserie opens in Southampton’s historic Royal Pier

Kuti’s Brasserie opens in Southampton’s historic Royal Pier

Kuti’s Brasserie, a fine dining Indian restaurant has launched in the former gate house of the historic Royal Pier in Southampton. Styled ‘Empress of India’ after 1876. Queen Victoria opened the Royal Pier in 1833. After being introduced to Indian cuisine by her ‘Munshi’, Abdul Karim, on the Isle of Wight, she ate curry every day.

Set in an imposing two-story property, Kuti’s Brasserie has four dining areas with 110 covers on the ground floor; 60 on the first floor; 30 upstairs in the Chandelier Cocktail Bar; and 60 additional seats on the outdoor rooftop terrace, with views across Southampton Water.

Kuti’s Brasserie is on the former site of Royal Thai restaurant, which occupied the venue for 10 years until recently. Kuti’s Brasserie is owned by restaurateur Kuti Miah, who aged 60, still works front of house. It was formerly located in Southampton’s Oxford Street, until it was closed by fire in April. He also owns Kuti’s Express, a takeaway on Southampton’s Aldermoor Road; Kuti’s Noorani in Eastleigh in Hampshire and Kuti’s of Wickham, near Portsmouth.

Miah has recruited, Ravi Roa, formerly of the Michelin-starred Vineet Bhatia, as his Executive Chef. Roa expects to introduce an haute Indian cuisine menu, to sit alongside traditional curry house favourites.

“A venue such the Royal Pier’s Gate House deserves a first-rate restaurant with a world class chef – and with Ravi, wo now have one,” said owner Kuti Miah, adding, “He’s a great addition to Southampton’s dining scene.

To coincide with the reopening of the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton, following its recent £7.5m renovation, one of Chef Roa’s first initiatives will be to introduce an early evening, express pre-Theatre menu.

Royal Pavilion Built to provide steamer services to the Isle of Wight and a place for visiting ships to dock. Celebrities such as Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chaplin and Clark Gable all landed at the Royal Pier after crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

In 1847 a horse-drawn tramway was constructed linking to the pier to Southampton’s rail terminus. In 1876 horse trams were replaced by light steam locomotives. In 1888 due to the pier was given a new gatehouse.

The pavilion was extended several times and by 1930 could seat up to 1000 people and became the popular Mecca dance venue. The pier was closed in 1979. The gatehouse was reopened as a restaurant in 1986 but in the following year, a fire destroyed many of the pier’s structures in 1992 another fire damaged the restaurant and not refurbished until 2008 and opened as Royal Thai when it became home to the Royal Thai. The venue is quickly establishing itself as a popular Southampton destination for restaurant goers, weddings and private events.

Chef Ravi Roa Executive Chef, with 20 years’ experience Chef Roa has a dynamic cooking style and accomplished skill set in the realm of modern Indian cooking. Formerly Sous Chef at the Michelin-starred Vinheet Bhatia restaurant in London, Road has an impressive CV which includes a spell at the Movenpick Five Star luxury Hotel in Dubai. He has been tasked with taking with making Kuti’s Brasserie the best Indian Restaurant in Southampton.

Queen Victoria Mohammed Abdul Karim, known as “the Munshi” (meaning clerk teacher), was an Indian attendant of Queen Victoria. He attended her during the final fifteen years of her reign, after which she ate curry, usually chicken with lentils, every day. He was one of two servants to the Queen. Victoria appointed Karim as her Indian Secretary, showered him with honours, and obtained a land grant for him in India.

Opening Hours

Monday: 18.00 to 23.00 Tuesday to Sunday – Lunch: 12.00 to 14.00 Tuesday to Thursday – Dinner:18.00 to 23.00 Friday and Saturday – Dinner: 18.00 to 23.30

The Royal Pier, Gate House, Town Quay, Southampton, Hampshire SO14 2AQ