Dishoom to continue search for new UK restaurant sites

Dishoom has said it will continue to look at opening more restaurants in the UK after seeing a rebound in profits last year.

The Indian restaurant group launched its ninth site, in London's Canary Wharf, in 2022 and said it would continue to "evaluate potential new restaurant openings in the UK".

Turnover at Dishoom rose 64% to £94.9m last year, boosted by new restaurant openings and the fact the business was able to trade without pandemic restrictions.

Pre-tax profits increased from £1.1m in 2021 to £4.7m during the year to 1 January 2023.

Although this was below pre-pandemic levels, Dishoom said it expects profits to return to a similar level during 2023.

"During 2023 volumes have continued to grow and the return to previous levels of demand in the existing restaurants and the addition of delivery and at home channels have increased revenues vs FY22 and the directors are of the view that they will be able to meet liabilities as they full due in the next 12 months," directors Kavi Thakrar and Shamil Thakrar wrote in the results.

Dishoom, inspired by the old Irani cafés of Bombay, was founded by Shamil and Kavi in London's Covent Garden in 2010. It has since expanded to six restaurants in London and regional sites in Edinburgh, Manchester, and Birmingham.

The group donated over three million meals to children in India and the UK in 2022 through its charity partners Akshaya Patra and Magic Breakfast.

Dishoom said it was committed to reducing its carbon emissions and had appointed a head of sustainability in 2023.