GENSOCIAL
The boss of an Indian restaurant chain judged one of the best in Britain for its takeaways has slated the Government for the potentially “long-lasting“ impact of its “complicated” lockdown policies.
The owner of Tamatanga, which has branches in Leicester, Nottingham and Birmingham, said the Covid restrictions had had a crippling effect on all three cities.
And he feared the long-term impact could be even worse when Brexit is thrown into the mix next year.
The independent chain has just been named one of the best for deliveries in the UK – although diners can’t sit down to eat in any of the three cities, they can still order a takeaway.
It was one of six businesses to make the finals for best Indian restaurant in the UK and Ireland at the annual Deliveroo Restaurant Awards – with Brigadiers in London named the eventual winner.
Managing director Aman Kular said he was “beyond thrilled” but said 2020 had been a dreadful year.
He said: “It has been a nightmare for us. Hospitality has been destroyed and a southern bias is unfair, especially when you see the level of infections in London now.
“We have been unable to trade during our busiest three months of the year in the lead up to Christmas.
“In Leicester we have been impacted massively. We have now been closed a total of 135 days in the first lockdown, and 40 days in the second lockdown and counting – we are not confident if we will open until February.
“The best case is we open in January – we just don’t know. The uncertainty of not knowing the dates make it very difficult to plan and run a business.
“But in total to be closed as a restaurant for over six months, losing half a year’s takings, is deeply upsetting.
“The impact of lockdown is all in the momentum, closing and opening again, the impact on equipment, supply chains. It’s not easy closing down and then opening back up again, there is a cost incurred in doing so.
“Trying to navigate a business through all the tier restrictions that differ from one location to another is complicated as is keeping abreast of the fluid nature of these changes.
“Leicester has been hit the hardest by the restrictions – in the whole of the UK, if not Europe.
“As a city we have been massively affected yet there is no support coming from central government to support this great city so we can bounce back, I am worried about the long-lasting impact and in particular what happens in March 2021 when a lot of the support passes away. What then? That’s when the real impact will be felt.
“Not only did we have to contend with the blow of Tier 3 and a second lockdown we now have the threat of Brexit and the impact on our supply chain and prices – we rely on imported ingredients and will be impacted by supply chain shortages and price increases.
“I think the impact of Brexit is clouded by what’s happening with Covid and its double whammy and an existential threat to the hospitality sector.”
Mr Kular said getting to the finals of the Deliveroo competition after such a turbulent year was thanks to his loyal customers.
Tamatanga faced tough competition from big name chains and independents in the shortlist, and more than 400,000 votes were cast by Deliveroo diners up and down the country.
A judging panel including TV presenter and DJ Maya Jama, broadcaster and DJ Vogue Williams and reigning Celebrity MasterChef champ Riyadh Khalaf were tasked with helping Deliveroo founder Will Shu name the winners.
Winning the overall restaurant of the year award was The Athenian, a Greek street food company, which launched a delivery service from a Deliveroo Editions kitchen in Nottingham in August and also has sites in Bristol, Birmingham, Brighton, Cambridge, Leeds, Manchester and Reading.
Mr Kular said: “We are beyond thrilled to have been named a finalist for the accolade of number one Indian restaurant on Deliveroo and are so thankful to all of our loyal customers who took the time to vote for us.
“Deliveroo is the UK’s most prominent delivery platform and as an independent business, this is a huge achievement.
“Like many in the industry, we have worked hard to adapt this year, and look forward to feeding even more diners with Deliveroo.”
The chain first opened its doors in Nottingham in 2008 and has since become a mid-range dining staple for foodies in the city.
The Leicester restaurant recently underwent a £1.5 million renovation and new venues in Sheffield and Leeds will join the three existing sites in 2021, with the 150-strong team also set to be expanded once restrictions ease next year.
