A NEW Indian restaurant is opening in Taunton next week.

Turmeric Kitchen @65 will welcome its first eat-in and takeaway customers to its Station Road premises from Wednesday evening between 5pm and 11pm.

Earlier in the day a gathering of VIPs will celebrate the opening at the eatery.

The business is being run by Niranjan Gopal, the general manager at the former Mint and Mustard restaurant 200 metres down the road.

It will specialise in Southern Indian food, but also offer traditional curries.

Mr Gopal said: "I'm very excited about opening.

"You can't find this kind of cuisine anywhere in Taunton or the rest of Somerset."

Specialities will include ten varieties of dosa rice pancakes; idli steamed rice puddings, which Mr Gopal calls the healthiest breakfast in the world; paratha bread; and Indian rolls.

The flavoured rices feature authentic Hyderabad biryani.

Mr Gopal added: "We're called Turmeric Kitchen because all our curries have a pinch of turmeric, making them naturally healthy."

Turmeric Kitchen @65 is open at lunchtimes and in the evenings.