From beekeeping to bakeries, here’s how to support the local community.
London is one of the most multicultural cities in the world. People of different races and religions call it home and share their cultures with the capital. The city has a long tradition of welcoming asylum seekers, migrants and refugees. Many of them have been behind businesses, which have enriched our society. Here is our list of inspiring refugee-born businesses in London.
Bees and Refugees
Founded by Ali Alzein, a Syrian refugee and activist, Bees and Refugees is an environmental justice organisation that provides beekeeping as a community-building activity for refugee communities in London. Launched in 2019, it was inspired by his grandfather’s beekeeping back home in Syria. He started the community to help boost his mental health and connect with others, due to PTSD from the war in Syria. Ali’s company further aims to provide refugees and asylum seekers with employment and therapeutic avenues.
GO: Visit https://beesandrefugees.org.uk for more information.
Cue Point
Located in Southeast London, Cue Point is an Afghan BBQ restaurant founded by Mursal Saiq, a refugee from Afghanistan. Mursal came to London in the 1990s and later launched this social enterprise that invites London’s refugees and immigrants to learn about what it takes to run a hospitality business, how to cook Afghan BBQ, and other essential skills to help give them a boost into the gastronomy industry.
GO: Visit www.cue-point.co.uk for more information.
Cream Dream
Located in Covent Garden, Yelyzaveta Tataryna opened a vegan pastry cafe in London after fleeing the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. She had initially planned to open her business in Kyiv, but the war forced Yelyzaveta to immigrate to London and open it here, where she employs other displaced Ukrainian refugees.
GO: Follow @cream.dream_london on Instagram for more information.
HAVEN Coffee
Founded in 2019 by Usman Khalid, a refugee from Pakistan, HAVEN Coffee is a social enterprise that provides barista training to other refugees and hosts live events that promote refugee artists and performers. It has a permanent coffee shop in Walthamstow, and also runs pop-up coffee shops for workspaces and events in London.
GO: Visit www.havencoffee.co.uk for more information.
Imad’s Syrian Kitchen
Located in Carnaby Street, Imad’s Syrian Kitchen was founded in 2017 by Imad, a Syrian chef and refugee. His restaurant is a celebration of delicious, lovingly made Syrian food and has a warm atmosphere created by his staff, who are refugees themselves, hired solely through the organisation Breaking Barriers. Imad gives back to the community regularly, raising money for refugee charities, hosting cooking clubs and fundraisers, and partnering with UNICEF to change the negative narrative of refugees worldwide.
GO: Visit www.imadssyriankitchen.co.uk for more information.
Mriya Neo Bistro
Founded by Ukrainian chef Yurii Kovryzhenko and his partner, Olga Tsybytovska, this modern bistro is entirely staffed by Ukrainian refugees and serves authentic Ukrainian food to Londoners. Located in Earl’s Court, it was launched in 2022 and has quickly become a go-to spot for delicious contemporary Ukrainian food, provided by hard-working Ukrainian staff.
GO: Follow @mriya_neo_bistro on Instagram for more information.
Plateful Café
Located in Southeast London, Plateful Café is a charity that offers refugee chefs work opportunities they might otherwise not have access to. Founded by Iolanda Chirico, the charity connects refugees and locals through a shared love of homemade food, catering opportunities and community initiatives. They regularly host events such as local artist showcases, open mic nights, and cooking workshops, organised by their volunteers, who share similar goals and interests.
GO: Visit https://platefulcafe.co.uk for more information.
Refugee Café
Refugee Café was founded in 2019 to unite refugees in Lewisham and the wider community. By providing them with employment opportunities, the café helps refugees integrate into society more easily. Refugees also benefit from events, markets, workshops, and training in skills and knowledge relevant to the catering industry, if they wish to pursue that career path.
GO: Visit https://refugeecafe.org.uk for more information.
Syrian Sunflower Kitchen
Located in Ealing and founded by Syrian activist, chef and refugee Majeda Khoury, Syrian Sunflower Kitchen is a catering company. It was launched in 2019 with the aim of turning any gathering into a delectable feast filled with traditional Middle Eastern flavours. Majeda also offers cooking classes through the charity Migrateful, which supports vulnerable communities in the UK by providing free meals.
GO: Visit https://thesyriansunflower.co.uk for more information.
Trampoline
Located in Angel, Trampoline is a coffee shop that provides training and employment opportunities for refugees, helping them integrate into society and gain refugee status. It was founded by the NEMI Teas group in 2022 and is part of a wider project by NEMI Teas, based on the main goal of consistently setting refugees up with permanent employment after joining the team.
GO: Visit https://trampolinecafe.com for more information.