Akbar’s Founder Shabir Hussain dies aged 56

Chef and businessman Shabir Hussain has passed away at the age of 56.

Shabir founded the popular Akbar’s in Bradford in 1995 before expanding to cities including Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow and Birmingham.

After announcing his cancer battle in 2023, fans across the world had been praying for Shabir, with many sending their condolences following the news of his passing.

Following the announcement of his death, Akbar’s said all its restaurants would be closed on October 16 and October 17.

The restaurant chain posted: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Shabir Hussain, founder of Akbar’s Restaurant Group.

“All restaurants will now be closed and will reopen on Friday at 17:00 BST.

“Please remember Shabir Hussain in your prayers. May Allah (SWT) grant him the highest rank in Jannah and bring peace and strength to his family during this difficult time.”

In an interview earlier in 2024, Shabir Hussain claimed he invented the ‘hanging naan’, which uses a vertical metal stand with hooks.

On the CEO Club podcast, he said: “I’m the guy who invented the naan tree – my biggest regret is I could have patented it.

“It’s actually now used everywhere by everybody.”

Shabir explained that he approached a metal worker friend and told him he wanted to serve large naan breads he had seen in Birmingham.

Serving side orders of that size would mean he would have to make his tables bigger, therefore reducing the number of covers at the restaurant.

He said: “The idea was to build a heavy base so it doesn’t fall over, bring it upwards and in the beginning, there was only hooks on one side.

“Now we put hooks on both sides so you can hang two naans on it.

“Really it was a space-saver, I didn’t know it would turn into a craze – people started coming to the restaurant just to see it.”

Paying tribute to Shabir, Labour MP Naz Shah said she was “deeply saddened” to hear of his passing, adding that he was “someone who we will all miss dearly”.

Posting on X, she added: “A huge loss to his family and the world of business, not just in Bradford but across the UK as his brand reached many cities.

“His entrepreneurial triumph was exporting the best of Bradford’s curry scene throughout the country.”

On social media, one person wrote:

“Ah no how very sad! I know how proud Shabir was of the incredible empire he had built with Akbar’s and how unbelievably hard he always worked.

“Shocked to hear this. Thoughts with his family and may he rest in peace.”

Another added: “Shabir was the third scion of Bradford’s Kashmiri restaurant trade to pass away recently.

“Bradford has lost another great businessman, philanthropist and all-round humanitarian who contributed hugely to the city in such a positive way!”