Kitgum Kitchen secures first bricks and mortar site

The concept, which was created by Fayaz Amlani and his partner Susie Bates, has taken the former Senor Buddha and Circo site on Preston Circus.

Kitgum Kitchen was founded four years ago and is inspired by the fusion cookery of Amlani’s family.

His parents were born in Uganda to Gujarati migrants. In 1972, Ugandan president Idi Amin expelled Asians from Uganda, with many migrating to the UK, where they brought their Swahili coast cuisine with them.

Amlani - who is seeking a £6,000 investment on Kickstarter ​to help fund the restaurant - says he was inspired to create Kitgum after realising how under-represented the food was in the UK.

 “Growing up my staple foods were chapatti, mishkaki (marinated BBQ meat skewers), curries and cassava. After cooking for my partner Susie, she questioned why she had never tried this type of 'Indian' cooking. Looking into my heritage it became clear that my cuisine was little represented in the UK.”

“We have been honing our skills ever since, popping up all over Sussex, and now want to open our restaurant and give people the full Kitgum experience: food, music, drinks in a buzzing social space.”

The ‘eats with beats’ concept, which is often accompanied by live DJs, has operated Brighton pop-ups at The Dover Castle, The Hare and Hounds, Signalman, Mesmerist, Sir Charles Napier, Street Diner and UnBarred Brewery.

Specialities include the 'rolex', a chapati wrapped around a thin omelette, with spiced potato, pickled carrots and tamarind.

Mains include a coconut chicken curry and a slow cooked lamb stew called kalyo.

Sides include cassava chips, zanzibar falafel, and kichidi, a buttery rice and lentil mash.