Akbars, the Yorkshire-based Indian restaurant chain, is set to open a new 300-seat property in Edgbaston, Birmingham, on 24 September as part of the company's plans to extend its portfolio.

Law firm Gordons has been advising the company on the acquisition of the Hagley Road venue, which will also boast a 200-guest capacity private function suite and is expected to be followed by the opening of a new 300-seat restaurant in Newcastle in January 2010. Akbars' managing director, Shabir Hussain, said: "Our expansion into Birmingham is an exciting one. It already has an excellent reputation for Asian cuisine so we are looking forward to offering our particular style of food and service within such a vibrant city restaurant scene."

The company open its first restaurant in Bradford, West Yorkshire, in 1995 and currently operates eight sites across northern England, including Middlesbrough, Manchester, York, Sheffield and Leeds.