A FORMER Indian restaurant in Westcliff is being transformed into a chicken wing business as the owner looks to expand on his successful takeaway. 

Elliott Evans, 29, is the owner of World Wide Wings and his current takeaway and delivery business in Rayleigh Lanes has proved hugely popular since opening in August 2020.

Now, the self-proclaimed chicken wing lover has taken over the former Spice Village restaurant at 306 London Road, Westcliff, with grand plans for it to become a restaurant as well as a takeaway. 

READ MORE >> Southend school urges parents to check pupils' phones over 'unpleasant' WhatsApps

The takeaway will open on March 1, however the restaurant will not open until April due to the site previously being littered with hundreds of bags of rubbish. 

Elliott said: “It was absolutely disgusting. Me and four other people have spent more than two weeks just cleaning it before we could even do any work. It was bad.

“We found eight mattresses, seven fridges, two sofas, and filled 300 bags of rubbish.

“We have deep cleaned the lot, floors, tables, everything before we could start decorating.”

The business boss was initially put on furlough in lockdown, pushing him to launch the Rayleigh business. 

Elliott said: “It is really exciting to have this coming.

We passionately believe in providing unrivalled quality journalism and value for money.

With a digital subscription, you can access our exclusive, insightful and trustworthy local news from just £1 a week.

If you are not already subscribing, sign up today to get instant access to our trusted local coverage - and an ad-light experience - check what package works best for you here.

“Obviously I started from a small, rented kitchen in a sports bar, so to now be opening a dine-in restaurant is amazing.

“It is so exciting but also nerve wracking at the same time, I hope it will be as popular and people will be as happy as they are with the Rayleigh site.

“We will have a similar menu with the chicken wings, and all the different sauces and rubs.

“But we are hoping down the line to host events, and offer bottomless brunches too. We have big plans.

Elliott didn’t have previous experience in commercial cooking, but always had a passion and thought lockdown was the perfect time to follow his dream.

He added: “I always had a passion for food and chicken wings, and I have been known to travel to eat chicken wings.

“I spent lockdown testing out loads of recipes, and eventually I got to a stage where I was happy, so looked at locations and found the rented kitchen in Rayleigh.

“My long-term goal is to open more, but that is only as long as we can expand while still keeping the quality.

“I don’t want to be a chain that doesn’t take care in food, and opens as many sites as possible, I want to provide amazing food for people.”