Inside Varanasi: the Birmingham restaurant where Johnny Depp dined out for £50,000

Johnny Depp dined out at one of Birmingham’s most opulent Indian restaurants during his stay in the city centre earlier this week for £50,000.

The Holllywood actor was in town to perform alongside guitarist Jeff Beck at Symphony Hall who is touring the UK.

And he enjoyed a lavish night out at Varansi on Broad Street where he enjoyed the finest food and wines while hiring out the whole venue - and leaving a big tip.

Mo Hussain, operations director at Varanasi, has told how he had a call from Depp’s security team to ask if they could take a look around the venue on Sunday afternoon, before booking the entire 300-cover restaurant out that evening.

He said that Depp and Beck then arrived with about two dozen members of their tour crew, from 7.30pm, to enjoy a three-course dinner.

The spread included starters of shish kebabs, chicken tikka and tandoori king prawns, while for the main course they had butter chicken, paneer tikka masala, lamb karahi and king prawn bhuna, with accompaniments including naan breads, rice and salad.

For dessert though, Depp skipped the traditional Indian options, opting for a panna cotta and cheesecake instead.

The party washed down their dishes with cocktails, as well as Rose champagne.

Depp is also said to have ordered the most expensive drink on the menu, called the ‘Jewel of Varanasi’.

The luxury cocktail includes 500 Hennessy Paradis Imperial, Grand Marnier, Quail Egg Whites, seeds from a Vanilla Pod, Lemongrass Syrup, 24ct Gold Leaf and Edible Flowers.

Mr Hussain said once Mr Depp had finished his meal he spent time “hugging, kissing and having photos taken” with members of staff, and friends and family members of the restaurant bosses.

Varanasi has attracted an array of stars over the years and is one of the most popular restaurants in the city.

Mr Hussain told BirminghamWorld: “We are the most luxurious restaurant in Birmingham.

“We are the biggest restaurant, and we have private rooms which are lavishly decorated, so that is a big part of it, and the ambience, mood lighting and not to forget the food as well, the nice Indian food.”

Mr Hussain said the restauant’s most popular dish is the butter chicken and the lamb karahi.

So let’s take a look inside the Birmingham establishment and see some of the other famous faces to have made a visit.