Asma Khan looking to relocate Darjeeling Express for second time

By James McAllister

- Last updated on GMT

Asma Khan looking to relocate Darjeeling Express for second time

Related tags asma khan Darjeeling Express Indian cuisine Restaurant Chef Female chefs

Asma Khan has said she plans to relocate her Darjeeling Express restaurant, currently located in London's Covent Garden, for a second time.

Speaking On BBC's Saturday Kitchen ​this weekend, Khan, who moved Darjeeling Express from its original Soho location to Covent Garden back in 2020, confirmed she is 'in the market' for a new site and is looking for one with an open kitchen in order to better allow her all-female kitchen team to be more visible.

"I think that I may have to move," she said.

"[Covent Garden] was brilliant during the pandemic, and I haven’t said this publicly anywhere, I am going to move [the restaurant] because the real stars of the show are my women in the kitchen.

"At the moment we’re in a basement kitchen, which is true for most West End places. Anyone who knows anyone who wants to lease a restaurant to me, I am in the market."

Darjeeling Express began life as a supper club for 12 guests before Khan opened it as a restaurant in Soho’s Kingly Court in 2017.

During its lifetime there the small restaurant received plenty of critical acclaim, with a table often hard to come by because of its popularity.

In the summer of 2020, following the first national Coronavirus lockdown, Khan confirmed she would move the restaurant from Soho to Covent Garden​ having taken over the former Carluccio's site on Garrick Street.

At the time, she told BigHospitality​ the 'pause of lockdown' had given her an opportunity to rethink how she could make things easier for her team, adding that she wanted a site with a bigger kitchen and dining room in order to be able to train more women in all aspects or running a restaurant.

Khan, who runs the Darjeeling Express kitchen with a full female brigade that she has trained, has been vocal in calling for more female chefs to enter the world of hospitality.

Speaking on Saturday Kitchen​, Khan added: "We are the only restaurant in the world with a female founder and all-female kitchen of housewives. I need to show them off because they are my pride and joy."

Related topics Business & Legislation Fine Dining

Related news

Show more

Follow us

Hospitality Guides

View more

Generation Next