'Second Coming' at Former Annapurna Site ?
New signage for Dusra Indian restaurant suggests possible relaunch
New signage recently appearrf at the premises on the High Road
May 8, 2026
The much missed Annapurna restaurant on Chiswick High Road may be preparing for a new chapter, after fresh signage appeared this week bearing the name “Dusra Indian Restaurant.” The premises, which have stood empty since Annapurna’s sudden closure, were locked and unattended when we visited, and no opening date or further information has been posted at the site.
The new branding is the first visible sign of activity at the address since the long-running Indian restaurant shut its doors. Annapurna’s closure followed a period of financial difficulty and staffing pressures, as previously reported by ChiswickW4.com. At the time, the owner suggested that while he was stepping back, a related party might take over the business in some form, leaving open the possibility of a successor restaurant operating from the same kitchen.
The owners have been telling long term customers that an opening could be on the cards and in January a message appeared on the Annapurna web site announcing a relaunch but nothing transpires.
Whether Dusra represents that promised successor remains unconfirmed. No planning notices or licence applications have been submitted to Hounslow Council, and the borough’s public register still lists the existing premises licence as active under the Annapurna name. The licence holder remains Mr Sharif Ahmed, with Shamuszzaman Ahmed named as the Designated Premises Supervisor. If these individuals are no longer involved in the new venture, a fresh licence application would normally be required before alcohol could be sold or late-night food served.
In several Indian languages, including Hindi and Urdu, “dusra” means “second” or “another” — a term sometimes used in cricket to describe a delivery that turns the opposite way to the expected spin. The doosra became famous through Saqlain Mushtaq, the Pakistani off - spinner who is credited with inventing and perfecting it in the late 1990s. The delivery was later employed by Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka and Harbhajan Singh of India among others.
The name could therefore hint at a 'second version' or an unexpected twist on the style of the former restaurant.
The premises themselves show no signs of refurbishment beyond the new signage, and no staff or contractors were present during our visit. The windows remain covered, and no menus, notices or branding materials have been displayed to indicate the restaurant’s concept, ownership or timeline.
Annapurna had been a fixture on Chiswick High Road since 1970 and was known for its traditional North Indian dishes and loyal customer base. Its closure left a noticeable gap in the local dining scene, and any return of an Indian restaurant to the site is likely to be welcomed.
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