Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Todiwala: Stop victimising the hospitality sector

Todiwala: Stop victimising the hospitality sector

Restaurant business badly impacted, says celebrity chef

TV CHEF and restaurant owner Cyrus Todiwala has said the government needs to stop “victimising the hospitality industry” for the spread of Covid-19.


Todiwala, who owns Cafe Spice Namaste at the edge of Royal Albert Wharf, Docklands, told Eastern Eye on Tuesday (14) his restaurant has seen several cancellations in the last week amidst the rise in Omicron cases.

Last week, prime minister Boris Johnson announced new measures as Omicron variant infections rose and said after face masks were compulsory in indoor public spaces, and new testing and self-isolation rules for contact

cases.

Todiwala said: “They [government] should not victimise the hospitality industry. The first thing everybody does is blame the restaurant industry or the hospitality industry for the spread of the virus. It is very naughty.

It’s not right. “We are extremely careful, all restaurants. We depend on people for our business. So why would we jeopardise anybody’s life?”

The hospitality industry – which includes restaurants, hotels and bars – has suffered heavily throughout the pandemic with many forced to shut down. Todiwala said, “We’ve been through the hard times now. We’ve suffered a lot since the last year and a half and so we just take it on the chin, and we’ll keep plotting on and hopefully we look forward to a better 2022.”

He said recent cancellations have not only impacted the business, but also himself and his team. “It impacts on everybody, because this thing brings everybody down. They [his colleagues] feel low and the buzz is gone again.”

Asked what plans he had in place if the new Covid crisis carried on beyond 2022, Todiwala said he would have to rethink the process. “We’ll have to look at diversifying the business because all along we never had to look at the takeaway business before. We never had to look at sending food to people’s homes before. And now we are; we are looking at all those options because we have to be able to at least survive and just break through. We have to pay salaries, rent, lots of things.”

It has just been over a week since Café Spice Namaste opened in a new area in the city (Docklands). Since 1995 – when it originally opened – it was situated in Prescot Street, Whitechapel, east London.

“I think this is a better area than the previous one for takeaway sales,” Todiwala said. “So, we will be doing that as best as we can.”

Asked what help he would like from the government, Todiwala said: “If the government goes in for another lockdown, then yes, there is going to be problems, we will need help.

“We have not even restarted earning any revenue and we’ve already been slapped for our rates, so it becomes very difficult.”

He added: “How do you produce the money to pay the council because within days you get a court notice. I think if the government looks into that a little bit more closely and allows us a little freedom, it will give us a chance to recover.”

Todiwala said he and his team have practised Covid safety measures, keeping up with the simple things such as wearing a mask, sanitising the tables and chairs after every sitting and keeping the tables socially distant.

The chef, originally from Mumbai, trained at the Taj Hotels and Palaces chain in India, and became the executive chef for 11 of the restaurants.

He arrived in the UK with his family in 1991. Todiwala has cooked for the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations and he was awarded an MBE in 2000, and an OBE in 2009 for his contributions to the restaurant industry.

More For You

Lupa Foods CEO hails royal warrant as a mark of trust

Manish Mandavia

Lupa Foods CEO hails royal warrant as a mark of trust

THE Asian CEO of a UK-based food company with a royal warrant described the accolade as a “great sign of confidence” in its values.

Lupa Foods first received the royal warrant from Queen Elizabeth in 2001.

Keep ReadingShow less
Labour announces pension reforms to rewire economy

Sir Keir Starmer and chancellor Rachel Reeves meet business leaders in central London on Tuesday (28)

Labour announces pension reforms to rewire economy

PRIME MINISTER Sir Keir Starmer and chancellor Rachel Reeves met business leaders on Tuesday (28) to announce pension sector reforms that they hope will boost economic growth and investment.

Starmer and Reeves held the meeting in London’s finance centre with leading chief executives including Lloyds Banking Group’s Charlie Nunn, BT’s Allison Kirkby, Tesco’s Ken Murphy and BAE Systems’ Charles Woodburn, the government said.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rachel-Reeves-Getty

'I can confirm today that this government supports a third runway at Heathrow and is inviting proposals to be brought forward by the summer,' Reeves said in a speech. (Photo: Getty Images)

Government backs Heathrow’s third runway for economic growth

THE GOVERNMENT has announced its support for a third runway at Heathrow Airport, with chancellor Rachel Reeves stating that the expansion would drive economic growth while aligning with climate commitments.

"I can confirm today that this government supports a third runway at Heathrow and is inviting proposals to be brought forward by the summer," Reeves said in a speech, adding that the project "would unlock growth."

Keep ReadingShow less
ola-reuters

Ola stated it has clarified the matter with the CCPA and is working to address any misunderstandings. (Photo: Reuters)

After Uber, Ola also refutes claims of charging Apple users more than Android users

INDIAN ride-hailing company Ola has denied claims that it charges users differently based on their phone models. The statement comes a day after its competitor Uber also dismissed similar allegations.

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), acting on directives from consumer affairs minister Pralhad Joshi, had issued notices to Ola and Uber following media reports and complaints.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rachel Reeves

Reeves also gave her clearest signal yet of support for expanding London’s Heathrow airport. (Photo: Getty Images)

Reeves signals focus on lower taxes, less regulation

CHANCELLOR Rachel Reeves stated that the country’s finances were now stable following her October budget, adding that her future focus would be on reducing taxes and cutting regulation.

“Now we have wiped the slate clean,” Reeves said, referring to the October budget.

Keep ReadingShow less