Restaurant owner thrilled to receive national recognition

A Bath restaurant is set to receive £10,000 and a business mentorship scheme after making it to the final of a national campaign.

Noya’s Kitchen in St James’s Parade has been announced as one of Gousto Cookstarter’s five finalist restaurants, beating over 15,000 independent restaurants to receive the reward.

The initiative was launched after research revealed that 90 per cent of independent restaurants came close to closing during the pandemic, with Gousto calling on foodies to nominate their favourite independent restaurants.

After a rigorous selection process, Noya’s Kitchen has been one of five restaurants selected to receive £10,000 of funding and a year-long business mentorship programme, headed by Gousto’s CEO Timo Boldt.

Alongside the cash grant and mentorship scheme, Noya’s Kitchen will be invited to create a limited edition recipe box in partnership with Gousto, allowing them to bring their signature dishes into kitchens across the country.

The owner of the Vietnamese restaurant, Noya Pawlyn, said: “We’re thrilled to be chosen as one of Gousto’s five Cookstarter restaurants and can’t quite believe our little family-run business has received so much support from our loyal customers.

“This last year has been tough for us and so disjointed for our team, but we’ve found new ways for local customers to enjoy our freshly-cooked dishes at home.

“Winning Cookstarter has given us a huge energy boost and it’s so exciting that with Gousto’s help, we can soon introduce some wonderful Vietnamese flavours to people all around the UK, as well as welcoming back friends and families into Noya’s Kitchen.”