Refugee restaurant in new city centre home

A COVENTRY restaurant run by newly arrived refugees from war-torn countries has opened up in a new city centre home.

The project was set up in May this year with the aim of supporting those fleeing war in the Middle East and offering them work.

Refugees from Syria and Iraq are offered work experience placements at the restaurant, Arabian Bites, to help them move closer to the job market.

Organisers at the charity say the scheme shows new arrivals that they are welcome in the city and helps to integrate them into the local community.

After previously running a pilot scheme at a temporary base at Central Hall on Warwick Lane, the project has been so successful the team have now secured a permanent home on Lamb Street, which had its grand opening on Saturday (August 25).

Reverend Liz Jackson, Vicar at the St Francis of Assisi Church in Radford, helped to set the project up.

She told the Telegraph: “We hope that the project will provide people with an opportunity to mix with our newly arrived neighbours, get to know them, understand something about the circumstances they have fled and appreciate their desire to be fully integrated and contributing residents of Coventry .

“It’s a way of them giving back to the city, and it also gives them something to engage with while gaining real life work experience.

“We want to show off the skills they have to offer and give people in the city the chance to get to know our new arrivals.”

The project was inspired by Jamie Oliver’s London restaurant Fifteen, which was set up to train people from disadvantaged backgrounds in the restaurant business.

Volunteers attend the project for 10 weeks during which they work in the restaurant, undertake an accredited training course and take English lessons.

Rev. Jackson said the restaurant, which serves a range of Arabic delights in a mezze style, has received hugely positive reviews and is already building a loyal customer base.

She said: “Our guests love the food. The volunteers come up with the menu which is all Middle Eastern and vegan and is served so people can try a bit of everything.”

“People have been coming again and again.

“We also cater events and we recently served the Archbishop of Canterbury when he came to the city.”

A total of twelve refugees have been helped through the project’s initial scheme and the team will now be working with another twelve at the new premises.

Speaking ahead of the opening last week, new recruit Nor Ayoubi, a waiter at the restaurant, said: “I’m looking forward to welcoming the people of Coventry to try Arabian Bites and the fantastic food.

“I’m happy to work here and to make the restaurant the best restaurant in Coventry.”

“The volunteers we have seen so far absolutely love it,” Rev. Jackson said.

“It gives them somewhere to practise their English which is really exciting for them.

“Nobody that comes here doesn’t want to give back to the city and this gives them the chance to.

“It’s a great opportunity for them and it shows our new arrivals that they are welcome here.”