A Punjabi Family Has Run a London Restaurant for Eight Decades
In short
- Gurbachan Singh Maan arrived in Britain from Punjab in 1936 and sold goods door to door.
- He opened Punjab India Restaurant on Braham Street, Aldgate, in 1946.
- The family moved it to 80 Neal Street, Covent Garden, where a fourth generation now runs it.
Why the Good News Desk likes this one
The restaurant has survived hardship, redevelopment threats and a pandemic across four generations. It is recognised as the oldest North Indian Punjabi restaurant in the UK. Its story also shows how migrant work can grow into a lasting local business.
From The Better India
Before he could welcome people into a restaurant of his own, Gurbachan Singh Maan spent 10 years knocking on strangers' doors. He had arrived in Britain from Punjab in 1936, carrying a suitcase of goods to sell. Far from home, he walked London's streets day after day, earning a living and saving whatever he could. It would take him a decade to open a small restaurant. In 1946, he finally opened ‘Punjab India Restaurant’ on Braham Street in Aldgate. Eight decades later, his family still runs it at 80 Neal Street in Covent Garden. Now in its fourth generation, it is recognised as the oldest...
