Do you/your family own a restaurant/take-away?

[Koyes]

Hey,

Do you/your family currently own a restaurant/take-away?

Did you/your family own one/perhaps both in the past?

Maybe you have several of these businesses, or did so previously?

The reason I ask is because nowadays, as we're all aware, fewer and fewer Bengalis are involved in the catering industry...

How about you/your family?

And what do you think is going to happen to this sector in the future? 




Koyes

[Nadia Shahanaz]

My dad used to own in chelt and london but is retired and out of the trade now!

[akeel]

My Dad was in the restaurant trade for most of his working life in the UK, most recently we had our own place in Oxford city centre (though sold it about 3 years ago). I used to help out, and I really enjoyed it, especially the free food! plus I picked so much khasa bengali from the kitchen lol!..

It is not too common for our generation to get involved in the restaruant trade and in some ways thats good, because we're getting invovled in other areas of work, getting careers, etc.. however it does leave the problem of how these places will function in the future?

It's not made better by immigration laws that make it harder and harder to employ workers from overseas, but only today I heard the Home Office will include "Chefs / Cooks" on the "shortgage occupation list", which will in fact make it easier for businesses to employ chefs from back home. This is great news for the industry. If anyone here is in the business, and requires some advice or legal help with this when the new rules are introduced in Nov, please feel free to contact me!

[salma b]

my dad owned a chain of restaurants up north, but gave them all up when he made the intention to perform Hajj and went that year, in 1984... since then, we've been in and out of the takeaway business, unfortunately it's always my eldest brother being lumbered with running the place, as the others bar the 3rd one do not like to get involved at all...

[Koyes]

My dad's owned restaurants/take-aways in the past, but a couple of years ago, we sold our remaining really successful restaurant, and now we just have the one takeaway...

It had to be done - my father's obviously getting older, and is able to work less and less, and myself and my siblings aren't so involved in the catering trade...

That's not to say we haven't had experience in it though! Like many of us (guys in particular, but also some girls I know), I used to help out/'work' in our restaurant, and I actually started helping out when I was 12! When we opened our current takeaway in 2000, I was managing it at the age of 17, while my father ran the restaurant.

I think it gave me an excellent insight into the industry, and taught me some fantastic skills as well!

My brothers have also both been involved, and I think taking part in the family business is such an invaluable experience in life, which not only assists your family a great deal, but also teaches you a lot and helps build your character for the future.




Koyes

[fuzzy]

Since coming to this country my dad has only been involved in the restaurant industry, he is an excellent chef and I remember when there was any weddings in the area they asked my dad to help them prepare the food! The last 2-3 decades has seen my dad involved in a number of resturants and take aways, thats the only reason why we have ended up in our small town today because my dad opened a resturant.

Today we own a very successful take away in our town which ticks along nicely and is run by family mainly. We used to have a restaurant 2 years ago but you have problems in partnerships so we opted out and i'm glad we did, as we are better off now!

Btw our food kicks ass, not being biased or anything!

I appreciate how hard my family works and its nice still being involved in the industry, I go and help out at weekends, great time to catch up with my brothers and bring income into the house!

[Nadia Shahanaz]

Btw our food kicks ass, not being biased or anything!

Heeellll yeah!! Mmmmh was soo tasty!!

[Jabed]

If you or your family own a restaurant or take away... have you notice people (i.e. your customers) cutting back on how much they spend in recent months? 

[Tejpata]

^Yes. My non-immediate family are having to cut the number of staff they have just to tide over and keep their businesses afloat each week. It's really sad because most of the restaurant staff barely speak English and are uneducated. Some of these people are now having to rely on their family and friends for support.

[Koyes]

^Yes. My non-immediate family are having to cut the number of staff they have just to tide over and keep their businesses afloat each week. It's really sad because most of the restaurant staff barely speak English and are uneducated. Some of these people are now having to rely on their family and friends for support.

The recession really is hitting all walks of life... 



Koyes

[Jabed]

The reports that I'm getting is that in general the curry industry is declining and that people have really started to not to eat out as much nor purchase as frequently as before. Christmas bookings for instance are also significantly down in London and South East.

[Saif-ur-Rahman]

My father has owned restaurants in the past, thinking that as long as he does not touch/serve/deal with alcohol directly it was okay. I could not get him to retire since he's a workaholic so the tactic was to change his mindset about alcohol.

When I was at uni, I used my student loan and my earnings to invest in a Halal Takeaway, and with a little bit of convincing from my mum we saved him from the restaurant trade - and now he see the takeaway as his little project, just counting the days until he retires.

The rate my father is going, there is a greater chance of me retiring before him!

[Kamal]

We started off in the Restaurant trade owning a restaurant and a takeaway but then we left the trade and focused on the Supermarket chain and Properties. After many years we have now gone back into the catering industry by opening a non licensed restaurant (no alchohol sold) of our own.
 
I recently helped out in my family Restaurant business but couldnt really get involved as much as I am studying my Masters this year. There is a lot of talk about the recession and restaurants closing down but from what I have experienced its the location, good chef, good service, loyal customers and offers that keep you afloat during these tough times.

[toy]

I've worked in restruants and take-aways since I was 12 and must say I love it. And I agree with the above comment 110% A good restruant or take-away relies on location, a good chef and amazing customer service.

[Koyes]

It's quite interesting to see the poll results... and how most of the people who voted USED to own a take-away/restaurant...

I wonder what they/their families do now?

If you're one of those people, care to elaboorate and let us know?



Koyes

[KayKay]

Nope - and dont intend to.

[joibangla]

My dad was involved in the restaurant trade from when he came here and he did own a couple of restaurants and a takeaway but he retired many years ago.  I did work briefly in a restaurant when I was 16 but it wasn't really my kind of thing.  Funnily enough, I have nothing to do with the catering industry now but for some reason I'm always getting offers from people to invest when they are looking for partners, not sure why though!

[Koyes]

My dad was involved in the restaurant trade from when he came here and he did own a couple of restaurants and a takeaway but he retired many years ago.  I did work briefly in a restaurant when I was 16 but it wasn't really my kind of thing.  Funnily enough, I have nothing to do with the catering industry now but for some reason I'm always getting offers from people to invest when they are looking for partners, not sure why though!

Have you ever considered investing into it or given it any thought? Would you think about it in the future?



Koyes

[joibangla]

My dad was involved in the restaurant trade from when he came here and he did own a couple of restaurants and a takeaway but he retired many years ago.  I did work briefly in a restaurant when I was 16 but it wasn't really my kind of thing.  Funnily enough, I have nothing to do with the catering industry now but for some reason I'm always getting offers from people to invest when they are looking for partners, not sure why though!

Have you ever considered investing into it or given it any thought? Would you think about it in the future?



Koyes

Yeah I have actually but the offers were never really right.  I wouldn't have the time to actually get involved and I fear a lot of people offered me opportunities because they think I would be a silent partner!  But I'm not willing to part with my cash for someone else to, as Sir Alan Sugar would say - piss it up the wall!