Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, was delighted to formally open the new Spice Gate restaurant in Friern Barnet Road at the weekend. Spice Gate is situated on the site of the Arjun Tandoori restaurant, which had been left empty and derelict for two years. The new business will create 14 jobs.
The restaurant is owned by local entrepreneur Misbah Sadath, who came to the country 18 years ago from Bangladesh. When he came to London he worked in the restaurant industry for two years before moving on to a business in the legal world. The new Spice Gate is the third restaurant he has set up joining Spice Station in Chingford and Spice Village in Kings Langley.
Theresa said: “It is always great to see new businesses coming into Barnet, and I welcome the new jobs that this start-up enterprise will bring. Spice Gate will be giving new life to what was a derelict building, and I felt honoured to be asked by the owners, Misbah and Parvin Sadath, to formally open the restaurant. I look forward to seeing Spice Gate prosper and wish Misbah and Parvin well with their new venture.”
Mr Sadath said “I believe small businesses are the backbone of the British economy. I want to create as much local employment as possible. Indian restaurants are part of the British landscape. As curry is the nation’s favourite dish, Spice Gate is happy to be opening its doors and will offer its clientele a fine dining experience with some old favourites as well as some new ones created by our talented chef from Bangladesh. Food has the ability to bring people together and we hope Spice Gate will be the new meeting place for the local community.”
A number of distinguished members of the British Bangladeshi community attended the event and Cllr Wendy Prentice represented the Mayor of Barnet. A further VIP guest was the High Commissioner for Bangladesh, His Excellency Mr Abdul Hannan.